About
An upright biennial or short-lived perennial capable of reaching 1.5m tall, though often much less, with deeply lobed, dark green leaves, often overwintering as a low rosette. Large, flat-topped clusters of yellow, daisy-like flowers appear from mid-summer to mid-autumn.
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
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH7
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial, Herbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming, Columnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesWildlife gardens, Wildflower meadow
ToxicityPoisonous to horses and cattle
Care notes
CultivationGrows naturally in grassland and waste ground, on roadsides and sand dunes. A problem weed in paddocks, and gardens bordering grazing land or land used to grow forage, as it is poisonous to horses and other livestock. Otherwise it is a good plant for wildlife, attracting a range of pollinators and providing the main food plant for cinnabar moth caterpillars. See ragwort for more information
PruningNo pruning needed. Cutting back is not an effective control method
PropagationSpreads readily by seed, also by offsets and root fragments
Pest resistanceGenerally pest free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free