Oriental False Hawksbeard (Youngia japonica)

This is an up-and-coming invasive plant in North Carolina, becoming common especially in suburban areas. It can tolerate heavy shade, unlike most invasives, so could be the next Microstegium.

Greensboro, NC 5/15/10.

Typical habitat in heavily invaded suburban woods, here competing with Akebia quinata and Lonicera japonica. If you try to pull it up, oftentimes it will just break off above the basal rosette, leaving the plant to regrow.

Greensboro, NC 5/15/10.

All photographs and text ©2013 by Will Cook unless otherwise noted.