golden ragwort
Family
AsteraceaeScientific Name
Packera aureaOther Common Names:
squaw weed
golden groundsel
Identifying Characteristics
Golden Ragwort is a member of the Aster family
(Asteraceae). It is a somewhat weedy, short lived,
perennial forb growing from 6 inches to 2 feet tall. The two very different kinds of leaves are highly
distinctive. The blades of the basal leaves are 2
inches long and 2 inches across; they are cordateorbicular
in shape. The slender petioles of the basal
leaves are 2 inches long. A flower stalk develops
from the center of each rosette. Along this stalk,
there are usually 2 " 3 alternate leaves. These leaves
are smaller in size than the basal leaves and pinnatifid
in shape. Both the alternate leaves and the stalk are
hairless. The stalk ends in a flat-headed panicle of
yellow flowers. The blooming period occurs early
spring (March " April) and lasts about 3 weeks. Each
daisy-like flower is 1 inch across; in the center there
are numerous golden yellow disk florets, which are
surrounded by 6-16 yellow ray florets. Both the disk
and ray florets are fertile. Each floret is replaced by a
purple bullet shaped achene which is distributed by
the wind. The short rootstock has spreading fibrous
roots and it produces rhizomes (and sometimes
stolons).
Where Found
Golden Ragwort is a carefree plant which prefers full
sun to light shade in wet to moist soils with ample
organic matter to retain moisture. Plants grown in
full sun require more moisture than plants growing in
shade. It often forms colonies of plants in favorable
habitats.
Distribution: This species is very widely distributed
in the eastern North America in USDA hardiness
zones 3 - 9. Habitats include wet deciduous woods,
meadows, banks of rivers, streams and lakes, slopes
of rocky ravines, and roadsides
Life Cycle
perennial
Plant Type
Herb