Plain Ragwort Packera anonyma
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Senecio anonymus
- Senecio smallii
- Phonetic Spelling
- PAK-er-uh ah-NON-ah-muh
- Description
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Small's Ragwort is a native wildflower in the Aster family that is found in a variety of drier habitats in much of the eastern United States, excluding New England. It often flourishes in habitats that are wet during the winter and dry in summer. It can easily be found in all areas of NC and is considered marginally weedy. As one of the first native flowers to bloom in abundance, it is a favorite of the uncommon early-season butterflies (elfins and hairstreaks) and several bees and beetles. It is also a host plant to the Gem moth (Orthonama obstipata).
The flowers appear in April and are bright yellow with both ray and disc flowers in clusters up to 100 individual flowers. The basal leaves are serrated and the stem leaves are lobed.
It prefers sandy, well-draining soil and full or partial sun but is adaptable to most soil types. Plants are usually short-lived, so divide older clumps or start new plants from seed. This is a great plant for the edges of a meadow or naturalized area to help feed those early bees and butterflies.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Packera
- Species:
- anonyma
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL, DC, DE, FL, GA, IN, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts a variety of hungry insects, including butterflies, cuckoo bees, Halictid bees, Andrenid bees, Syrphid flies, skippers, and beetles. Host plant to moths. Avoided by most herbivores.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit ellipsoid achenes; pappus a tuft of white bristles
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The ray and disc flowers are both bright yellow and occur in flat-topped clusters with 20-100 individual flowers. There are 8-15 rays per flower. Flowers are 1/2 inch wide. Blooms April to early June.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The basal leaves are narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate up to nearly a foot long and taper to long stems. Margins are serrated. The surface is usually glabrous. The stem leaves are alternate and may be sessile or have short stems. They are reduced in size as they go up the stem. Usually pinnately lobed.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The ribbed stems are usually glabrous except near the bases and leaf axils where there is some hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
