Hawkweed, small

Name: Mouse-ear Hawkweed / Pilosella (Deutsch: Kleines Habichtskraut / Mausohrhabichtskraut)
Latin name: Hieracium pilosella L. (syn. Pilosella officinarum)
Product form: Herb, dried, cut
Ingredients: 100 % dried mouse-ear hawkweed from conventional farming

Mouse-ear hawkweed is a perennial wild plant from the daisy family and has been known in European folk medicine for centuries. The rosette-forming plant with its hairy, grey-green leaves and yellow flowers grows preferably on dry, nutrient-poor meadows and calcareous soils. As a hawkweed tea it has been used traditionally in European herbal medicine for generations.

Uses and Effects

As hawkweed tea: The dried, cut mouse-ear hawkweed is suitable for preparing an aromatic herbal tea. Mouse-ear hawkweed tea has a slightly bitter, astringent taste and is traditionally used as a single herb or in herbal blends. Further preparation instructions can be found in the "Preparation" tab. 

Traditional use: In European folk medicine, mouse-ear hawkweed has long been associated with complaints of the respiratory and urinary tracts. It is traditionally described as diuretic and expectorant and used to support respiratory health. It also finds use in folk medicine to support mild digestive complaints. Further information on use can be found in the "Indications" tab.

About the Plant

Hieracium pilosella is a perennial, low-growing plant from the daisy family (Asteraceae) and reaches a height of 10 to 30 cm. The plant forms a flat leaf rosette of narrow, lance-shaped leaves that are shortly hairy on the upper surface and white-felted on the underside. The characteristic grey-green colour of the leaves is produced by the dense covering of hairs. The plant spreads by means of above-ground runners, forming spreading cushions. The individual yellow flower heads stand on a hairy, leafless stem and resemble small dandelion flowers in structure. The fruits are small achenes with a white pappus that enables wind dispersal. Mouse-ear hawkweed can be distinguished from common hawkweed by its individually borne flower heads and its creeping runners. 

Other names: Mouse-ear hawkweed is also known as pilosella, mouse-ear, felon herb or hawkweed pilosella. The synonym Pilosella officinarum is also used in botany. In French folk medicine the plant is known as Piloselle.

Habitat and harvest time: Mouse-ear hawkweed is widely distributed throughout Europe and parts of western Asia, colonising dry, nutrient-poor locations such as lean meadows, heathland, roadsides and calcareous soils. The plant is also found at higher altitudes. The herb is preferably harvested during the flowering period between May and August, when the concentration of active constituents is at its highest.

Historical roots: Mouse-ear hawkweed has a long tradition of use in European folk medicine. The plant was already described in medieval herbal books and used for respiratory complaints and as a diuretic. The German name Habichtskraut goes back to an old folk tradition according to which hawks used the plant to sharpen their eyesight. Paracelsus and later herbalists mentioned the plant in their writings as a well-established remedy of European folk medicine. In French folk medicine, piloselle remains a well-known medicinal herb to this day.

Key active constituents:

• Umbelliferone (7-hydroxycoumarin): A coumarin derivative regarded as a characteristic active constituent of mouse-ear hawkweed that plays a role in its traditional application.
• Flavonoids (incl. luteolin, apigenin): Secondary plant compounds with antioxidant properties, present in notable quantities in the plant.
• Chlorogenic acid: A hydroxycinnamic acid with antioxidant activity, belonging to the polyphenolic compounds of the plant.
• Tannins: Contribute to the astringent properties of the plant and are present in notable quantities in the herb.
• Mucilaginous substances: Plant polysaccharides traditionally associated with the expectorant properties of hawkweed.
• Bitter compounds: Responsible for the characteristic bitter, astringent taste of the plant.

Herbathek Stands for the Highest Quality

All products available at Herbathek are exclusively selected and of the highest quality. Our mouse-ear hawkweed is also 100 % naturally pure: free from preservatives, flavourings and other artificial additives - laboratory tested for purity, residues and product safety. 

Origin: Our mouse-ear hawkweed comes from Bulgarian farming, a region with a long tradition in the cultivation and processing of medicinal herbs. The raw material is carefully selected and tested for purity and quality. 

Careful cultivation & gentle processing: Throughout the entire growth and harvesting process, careful handling of the plant is ensured. This preserves its natural, plant-specific properties as fully as possible. The specifically cultivated form of the plant differs significantly from wild-growing variants and shows a considerably higher density of plant constituents. A particularly gentle further processing and a specially tailored drying process ensure the purity and high quality of this naturally pure raw material.

You can also purchase further similar products at Herbathek:

• Mouse-ear hawkweed, cut, organic