About

A herbaceous perennial with a stiff, upright habit that grows up to 2m tall. It produces clusters of yellow flowers with a classic daisy-like appearance from June to August. It has green, lance-shaped leaves that are sharply toothed with a greyish felted underside.

About the genus

A genus of around 35 species of native, flowering biennial or perennial herbaceous plants, previously grouped as Senecio and more commonly known as Ragwort. Stems are upright, foliage pinnate and lobed and clusters of flowers bright yellow and daisy-like in appearance. Although primarily known as being toxic to horses and cattle, it is also a valuable food source for pollinators

Growing conditions

SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam
Soil pHAcid, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5

Plant details

Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height1.5-2.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesWildflower meadow, Wildlife gardens
Native toW & C Europe

Care notes

CultivationGrow in permanently moist soil in a sunny location or in water at pool margins. See Creating wildflower meadows for further advice
PruningMinimal pruning required, for more information see cutting back herbaceous perennials
PropagationPropagate by sowing seeds outdoors or divide in spring
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free