Orange hawkweed was introduced to North America as an ornamental species towards the end of the 19th century in the eastern United States. Within 25 years it had spread from New England to Michigan and is currently one of the most widespread invasive plants in North America (Wilson and Callihan 1999). Orange hawkweed is a creeping perennial with milky sap and shallow fibrous root system (Wilson and Callihan 1999). The basal rosette of hairy leaves and cluster of dark orange compound flowers at top of a 0.3 to 1.2 m tall leafless flower stalk serve to distinguish this species from other hawkweeds in British Columbia.

Perennial

Orange hawkweed occupies a wide range of well-drained habitats but prefers coarse soils and unshaded sites.

It reproduces by seed, stolon, or rhizome and can form large continuous mats with up to 3500 plants per square metre (Wilson and Callihan 1999). Seed production is generally low, but seeds can be produced sexually or asexually without pollination. Seeds are mostly dispersed by animals, people, or vehicles. Although seeds are plumed, they are not spread widely by wind. Seeds can remain viable in the soil for more than 7 years although most germinate within one year of production.

Orange hawkweed is currently concentrated in the eastern part of the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast from east of 100 Mile House to the northern boundary but there are sites along the length of Highway 97. Scattered sites are recorded in the Chilcotin, and it is not recorded in the coastal areas of the region.