# Tall Western Groundsel (*senecio integerrimus*)

The Tall Western Groundsel is a vibrant yellow flower that can grow quite tall in grassy areas! It attracts many insects and adds color to the landscape during spring and summer.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** It lives in meadows, open fields, and along roadsides.
- **Also known as:** Senecio, Western Groundsel

![Tall Western Groundsel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Senecio_integerrimus_7466.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Senecio_integerrimus_7466.JPG)

## Appearance

The Tall Western Groundsel has bright yellow, daisy-like flower heads clustered atop sturdy, often reddish stems. Its broad, often smooth-edged basal leaves are distinct from its smaller, more dissected upper leaves, giving it a unique two-toned appearance. It stands out with its vibrant, sun-like blooms.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Senecio

## Interesting facts

- Its scientific name means 'most entire,' for its surprisingly smooth leaf edges!
- Its tiny seeds have fluffy parachutes, soaring far on the wind!
- Like tiny suns, its bright yellow flowers brighten early spring meadows.
- Though harmless to touch, it contains natural chemicals for defense.

## Special abilities

- **Early Bloomer Power:** Tall Western Groundsel can bloom early in spring, giving it a head start attracting hungry pollinators.
- **Chemical Defense Shield:** Tall Western Groundsel has special chemicals (pyrrolizidine alkaloids) that help it deter hungry herbivores.
- **Soil Seeker:** Tall Western Groundsel can thrive in many soil types, helping it grow where other plants can't.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-90 cm
- **Spread:** 20-45 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1.5-2.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Moderate
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Two-form Bumble Bee (*Bombus bifarius*) — Collects nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers pollen and nectar.
- **Pollinates:** [Painted Lady](https://www.snappit.app/explore/painted-lady) (*Vanessa cardui*) — Sips nectar from flowers.

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Tall Western 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 Tall Western Groundsel?

30-90 cm

### How wide does Tall Western Groundsel spread?

20-45 cm

### How big are the flowers on Tall Western Groundsel?

1.5-2.5 cm

### When does Tall Western Groundsel bloom?

Spring to early summer

### Is Tall Western Groundsel edible?

No

### Is Tall Western Groundsel toxic?

Moderate

### What is Tall Western Groundsel's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Great Sierra Mine Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-sierra-mine-historic-site) — California, US · Historic Site
- [Kootenay Lake Provincial Park - Midge Creek Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kootenay-lake-provincial-park-midge-creek-site) — British Columbia, CA · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Tall Western Groundsel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tall-western-groundsel)