Senecio

Senecio

Senecio aureus ( Golden Groundsel )
Also called Packera aurea. A rapid growing, rhizome spreading, evergreen perennial, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 4 ( averaging 2 ) feet, that is native to moist woods, bottomlands and bogs in eastern North America ( from southern Manitoba & northeast North Dakota to Thunder Bay, Ontario to Moosonee, Ontario to Newfoundland; south to southeast Oklahoma to far northern Georgia ). It is endangered in Oklahoma. Makes an attractive groundcover. In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario region; it was abundant around Windsor as well as Detroit, Michigan during the 1800s. It was also abundant on the Ohio shore during that time.
The leaves, up to 6 x 8 inches, are glossy rich green.
The golden-yellow, daisy-like flowers, up to 1 inch across, are borne during mid spring, often repeating into late summer.
The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
The stems are purple.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in partial shade ( tolerates full shade ) on fertile, moist, well drained soil. It is tolerant of flooding and poorly drained soils. Very easy to grow and rarely bothered by pests or disease. Deer resistant.

* photo taken on June 22 2014 in Howard Co., MD

* photos taken on Apr 17 2016 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on Apr 14 2017 @ Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photos taken on Apr 23 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Apr 23 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Apr 28 2017 in Ellicott City, MD

* photos taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

* photos taken on Apr 21 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Apr 14 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Apr 25 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 26 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 25 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Dec 15 2023 in Clarksville, MD

* photo taken on May 18 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Apr 15 2024 in Columbia, MD

Senecio cannabifolius ( Aleutian Ragwort )
Also called Senecio palmatus. A strongly erect, vigorous rhizome spreading perennial, reaching up to 8 ( rarely over 6.5 ) feet, that is native to mountains and open woods from eastern Russia to the Aleutian Islands; south to Mongolia to Korea and Japan.
The pointed, 3-lobed palmate leaves, up to 8 x 6 inches, are luxuriant mid-green. The leaf lobed are up to 5 x 2 inches in size.
The bright yellow flowers are borne on corymbs during mid to late summer.
They are followed by fluffy seedheads persisting through autumn.
The stems are reddish.
Hardy zones 4 to 7 ( 3 on protected sites ) in full sun to partial shade on moist soil.
It thrives best in cool summer climates and is great for boggy gardens. It is not often bothered by pests or disease.

Senecio cineraria ( Dusty Miller )
A perennial ( annual in cooler climates ) reaching up to 2.5 x 2 feet.
The foliage is silvery-white.
The flowers are yellow.
It requires full sun and light, well drained soil. Propagation is from seed, cuttings and division.

* photos taken on Oct 21 2014 @ Smithsonian Inst., Washington, DC

'Silver Dust'
A dwarf form, reaching only 1 x 1 foot.

Senecio doria ( Golden Ragwort )
An upright clumping perennial, reaching up to 5 x 4 feet in size, that is a widespread native to marshes and wet grasslands over much of Europe ( from France to the Caucasus south to the Mediterranean ).
The large, smooth-margined, pointed-oblong leaves, up to 3 inches wide, are luxuriant glossy deep green.
The golden-yellow flowers, up to 1 inch wide, are borne on terminal clusters during early to mid-summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on moist or wet, fertile soil.

Senecio obovatus ( Round-Leaf Ragwort )
Also called Packera obovata. A perennial, reaching up to 2 feet, that is native to eastern North America ( from southern Michigan to southeast Quebec to southern New Hampshire; south to eastern Texas to northern Florida ).
The deep green leaves are borne on 3 inch rosettes.
The bright yellow flowers are borne during spring.
Hardy zones 4 to 8.

Senecio smithii ( Magellan Ragwort )
A perennial, reaching up to 5 ( rarely over 4 ) feet in height, that is native to marshes in southern Chile and southern Argentina. It has naturalized in parts of Scotland.
THe toothed, broad-ovate leaves, up to 10 inches in length, are glossy mid-green above, hairy white beneath.
The white ( centered yellow ) flowers, up to 2 inches wide, are borne on termainal clusters during mid to late summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 7 ( also 8 in cool maritime climates ) in full sun to partial shade on humus-rich, wet soil to shallow water.

Senecio tanguticus ( Chinese Ragwort )
An upright, large, clumping perennial, reaching up to 10 x 4 ( rarely over 6 ) feet, that is native to meadows in northwestern China. It can spread rapidly on wet soil.
The broadly-ovate leaves, up to 7 inches wide, are very deeply lobed. The foliage is glossy deep green.
The golden-yellow flowers are borne on terminal clusters during late summer into mid-autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in partial shade on moist to wet, humus-rich soil.