ExplorePlants

common groundsel

Senecio vulgaris

Common groundsel is a small plant that grows in gardens and fields. It has bright yellow flowers that look like tiny suns and soft, green leaves.

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The common groundsel has distinctive deeply lobed, often ragged green leaves that grow from a reddish stem. Its small, yellow, thimble-shaped flower heads appear in clusters, often appearing without obvious petals, making it look quite different from a daisy.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusSenecio
common groundsel
flowering trait badgeagricultural trait badgeedible trait badgepollinator_magnet trait badge
common groundsel

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

It can sprout and grow from seed to flower in just a few weeks!

Its fluffy seeds can fly far on the wind like tiny parachutes!

Look closely! You might find this plant growing almost anywhere!

The plant's yellow flowers often stay closed, hiding their petals!

Special abilities

Ability

Speedy Sprout

Common groundsel can grow from seed to flower incredibly fast, helping it quickly colonize bare ground.

Ability

Seed Spreader

It produces thousands of tiny, feathery seeds that float on the wind, spreading far and wide.

Ability

Tough Grower

Common groundsel can thrive in very poor or disturbed soils where other plants struggle to grow.

Measurements & details

Height
10-60 cm
Spread
10-30 cm
Flower Size
0.2-1 cm
Bloom Season
Year-round
Edible
No
Toxicity
Mild
Lifecycle
Annual
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honey bee

Apis mellifera

Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.

eaten by

Groundsel leaf-miner

Botanophila seneciella

Its larvae feed on the leaves.

eaten by

European Goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis

Eats the plant's small, fluffy seeds.

Traits

Also known as

Groundsel

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Do not eat any plants without asking an adult first, as some can be harmful.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is common groundsel?

10-60 cm

How wide does common groundsel spread?

10-30 cm

How big are the flowers on common groundsel?

0.2-1 cm

When does common groundsel bloom?

Year-round

Is common groundsel edible?

No

Is common groundsel toxic?

Mild

What is common groundsel's lifecycle?

Annual

How is common groundsel pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

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Recent Snaps

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Where to spot

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