Crepis jacquinii – Hawk’s Beard –

Description

Crepis – Hawk’s Beard – There are about 200 species of annuals and perennials, in this genus. They occur in dry grassland, on stony slopes, and among mountain screes and rocks throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Although some species are persistent weeds, others are grown for their dandelion like flowers, borne singly or in simple or compound, many flowered racemes, corymbs, or panicles. They have one or several, mainly branched stems,, and usually produce flattened, basal rosettes of smooth edged to pinnatifid leaves. These species grown as ornamental plants are suitable for a large rock garden. Grow in any well drained soil in full sun. Prone to powdery mildew and rust. C. jacquinii – This rosette forming perennial from the Eastern Alps, Carpathians and Northwestern Balkans grows 16″ tall and 6″ wide. It produces inversely lance shaped to linear, smooth edged to pinnatifid, hairless or slightly hairy, light green leaves, to 6″ long. In summer it bears racemes of 1-6 bright yellow flowers, 1 1/4″ across, on stiff, scape like or branched, densely woolly stems. Zones 5-7