Common Ragwort

Senecio jacobaea

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.

Plant Data

Order:

Asterales

Family:

Asteraceae (Daisy)

Type:

Flower

Flowering Months:

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Flower:

Yellow, many petals

Dense, yellow daisy-like and compact clusters of flat-topped flowerheads. Clusters are generally more compact than with other Ragwort species. Individual flowers are up to 2.5cm.

Fruit:

A round, ridged, glabrous or short-haired seed (achene). 2mm long with hairs on the tip.

Leaves:

The leaves are raggedy looking. There are arranged alternate along the stems. The 1 to 2 times pinnately lobed leaves each have a small terminal lobe. The lobes have margins which are large-toothed and are often rounded. The lower leaves are short-stalked. The upper leaves are without a stalk and half clasp the stem.

Maximum Size:

1 metre tall

Aroma:

Scented leaves resembling the smell of Chrysanthemum.

Other Names:

Benweed, Cankerweed, Cankerwort, Dog Standard, European Ragwort, St James' Wort, Staggerwort, Stammerwort, Stinking Nanny, Stinking Ninny, Stinking Willy, Tansy, Tansy Ragwort.

Frequency (UK):

Abundant

Habitats:

Farmland, grassland, meadows, moorland, mountains, roadsides, swamps, wasteland, waterside, woodland.