ragwort
ExplorePlants
ragwort
Jacobaea vulgaris
Ragwort is a bright yellow flower that grows in fields and along roadsides. It's known for its cheerful color and can attract many insects, making it a lively part of nature!
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The ragwort has clusters of bright golden-yellow daisy-like flowers atop a sturdy, often purplish stem. Its deeply lobed, ragged-edged leaves are often dark green above and paler below, making it distinct from many similar wildflowers.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusJacobaea
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
3/5 · Moderate
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It can produce over 150,000 seeds from just one plant!
Ragwort has deep roots that help it find water in dry soil.
Some insects can eat its poison and become poisonous themselves!
This plant was once used to make yellow and green dyes!
Special abilities
Ability
Chemical Armor
Ragwort can produce special chemicals (alkaloids) that make it taste bad or even harmful to most plant-eating animals, protecting itself.
Ability
Wind Traveler
Ragwort has fluffy parachute-like seeds that can float on the wind for long distances, helping it spread and find new sunny spots.
Ability
Quick Recovery
Ragwort can grow quickly and colonize disturbed ground, even after damage, making it a pioneer plant in new habitats.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-120 cm
- Spread
- 20-50 cm
- Flower Size
- 1.5-2.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer to early autumn (June-October)
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- High
- Lifecycle
- Biennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
eaten by
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Cinnabar Moth
Tyria jacobaeae
Its caterpillars munch ragwort leaves.
pollinates
Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
pollinates
Drone Fly
Eristalis tenax
Feeds on nectar and carries pollen.
eaten by
Common Garden Snail
Helix aspersa
Sometimes munches on its leaves.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Biennial
Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
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.
Also known as
Common RagwortStinking Willie
Collections
Safety
Danger
3/5 · Moderate
Do not touch or eat ragwort, as it can be harmful if ingested.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is ragwort?
30-120 cm
How wide does ragwort spread?
20-50 cm
How big are the flowers on ragwort?
1.5-2.5 cm
When does ragwort bloom?
Summer to early autumn (June-October)
Is ragwort edible?
No
Is ragwort toxic?
High
What is ragwort's lifecycle?
Biennial
How is ragwort pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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