The Dawes Arboretum

Common name: golden ragwort, golden groundsel

Family: Asteraceae (aster, daisy, sunflower family)

Synonym: Senecio aureus

Distribution: e. North America

Habitat: Damp and swampy places in woodlands, meadows, along gravel banks and streambeds, acidic or sandy/gravelly soils; 0–1500 m

Hardiness: USDA Zone 3

Life form: Herbaceous perennial

Comments: Golden ragwort typically grows in moist woodlands, sometimes along swamps or streams. It can grow up to 3 ft. tall and blooms in April, producing bright golden yellow flowers. The leaves often have a slight purplish tinge underneath and the basal leaves are distinctively heart-shaped. Bees and flies are the primary pollinators of this plant.