Heath Groundsel

Senecio sylvaticus

Heath Groundsel is a cheerful little plant with bright yellow flowers. It often grows in grassy areas and can be seen blooming in the spring and summer.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Heath Groundsel is an upright annual herb with an often reddish stem and narrow, deeply lobed leaves. It has clusters of small, bright yellow, daisy-like flower heads, often lacking obvious ray florets, making them appear more like tiny pom-poms compared to typical daisies.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusSenecio

Photo: AnRo0002CC0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

Heath Groundsel

Interesting facts

Each plant can produce thousands of tiny seeds, all ready to float away on the breeze!

It's a distant cousin to sunflowers and daisies, even if its flowers look a bit different!

Its scientific name means 'old man' because its fluffy seeds resemble white hair!

This tough plant is often one of the first to grow in places where soil has been disturbed!

Special abilities

Heath Groundsel has fluffy parachute seeds that can fly far on the wind, helping it spread its offspring to new sunny spots.

Heath Groundsel can sprout and grow super fast in disturbed soils, helping it quickly claim new homes where other plants struggle.

Heath Groundsel contains special chemicals that make it taste bitter or harmful to many animals, helping it avoid being eaten.

Measurements & details

Height: 20-60 cm
Spread: 10-30 cm
Flower Size: 0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season: Summer, Fall
Edible: No
Toxicity: Mild
Lifecycle: Annual
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

Pollinates

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

collects nectar and pollen

Pollinates

Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

visits flowers for nectar

Eaten by

Black-headed Conch

Cochylis atricapitana

larvae feed on seeds

Traits

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Spring Blooming

Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Edible

Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.

Grassland

Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Rapid Growing

Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Plants

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Heath Groundsel?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How tall is Heath Groundsel?

20-60 cm

How wide does Heath Groundsel spread?

10-30 cm

How big are the flowers on Heath Groundsel?

0.5-1 cm

When does Heath Groundsel bloom?

Summer, Fall

Is Heath Groundsel edible?

Is Heath Groundsel toxic?

Mild

What is Heath Groundsel's lifecycle?