Packera aurea aka Golden Ragwort

Packera aurea is a perennial in the daisy family. Gardeners call it golden ragwort or golden groundsel. Its native range covers eastern Canada and the eastern United States, reaching Texas. It grows in damp woods, meadows, swamps, and stream banks. The older name Senecio aureus refers to this same species.

This plant forms clumps and spreads through rhizomes and seed. Over time, it can form a dense leafy mat. Flower stalks usually reach 1–2 feet [0.30–0.61 metres]. Listed garden heights reach 2.5 feet [0.76 metres]. Each clump can spread to 1.5 feet [0.46 metres]. The dark green basal leaves have a heart shape. They have toothed edges and long, thin stalks. Their undersides may have a reddish purple tint. The upright stems carry fewer leaves than the base. Stem leaves grow in an alternate pattern and have pinnate lobes. Basal leaves can stay green through mild winters.

Yellow flower heads rise above the leaves in flat-topped corymbs. Each head measures about one inch across. Both the rays and central disk flowers are yellow. White or purple heads occur rarely. Bloom dates vary with place, from April to May and June. Bees, butterflies, and other insects visit the flowers. The leaves feed northern metalmark butterfly larvae. After bloom, small brown achenes develop with white hair tufts. Wind carries these fruits, and the seeds draw birds.

Grow golden ragwort in full sun or partial shade. It can flower in shade as well. Give it soil that stays moist or becomes wet. Plants in sun need more moisture than those in shade. Do not let the soil dry out. North Carolina State lists acidic loam rich in organic matter. The plant grows at a moderate pace and tolerates wet soil. Sources place it in USDA zones 3–8. Seed and division both provide ways to grow more plants.

Use it as ground cover in damp, shaded beds. It also suits borders, woodland plantings, and native gardens. Rain gardens, bog gardens, and pond edges offer other uses. Cut spent flower stalks back, or leave seeds for birds. No major insect or disease problems are reported. Its spread can make it somewhat weedy. No edible uses are known. Past medicinal use does not make it safe to swallow. Its pyrrolizidine alkaloids can harm the liver. Contact with the plant can also irritate skin.