# Wood Ragwort (*Senecio ovatus*)

Wood Ragwort is a bright yellow flower that grows in fields and meadows. It has lovely, round leaves and can attract butterflies and bees, making it a cheerful sight in nature!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Wood Ragwort](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Asteraceae_-_Senecio_ovatus.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Hectonichus, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asteraceae_-_Senecio_ovatus.JPG)

## Appearance

The Wood Ragwort has upright stems topped with clusters of bright yellow, daisy-like flowers. Its deeply lobed, lance-shaped green leaves are mostly found at the base, making it look lush and vibrant in woodland settings. The numerous small flowers create a cheerful, bushy display.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Even though it's beautiful, many animals know not to eat too much of its green leaves!
- Its bright yellow flowers are like tiny suns hiding on the edge of the forest!
- Its seeds have little parachutes to fly far away on the wind and find new homes!
- Some caterpillars are super tough and can munch on its special leaves without harm!

## Special abilities

- **Toxic Shield:** Wood Ragwort has special chemicals in its leaves that make it taste bad to most hungry animals, helping it defend itself.
- **Windy Wanderer:** Wood Ragwort can produce many seeds with tiny parachutes, helping them fly far on the wind to find new places to grow.
- **Rapid Rebounder:** Wood Ragwort can grow quickly in disturbed areas, allowing it to rapidly colonize new spaces and thrive.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-150 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer-Autumn
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Moderate
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** common carder bee (*Bombus pascuorum*) — visits flowers for nectar
- **Pollinates:** marmalade hoverfly (*Episyrphus balteatus*) — feeds on pollen and nectar

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [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.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Always look but don't touch wild plants unless an adult says it's safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Wood Ragwort?

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 Wood Ragwort?

50-150 cm

### How wide does Wood Ragwort spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Wood Ragwort?

1-2 cm

### When does Wood Ragwort bloom?

Summer-Autumn

### Is Wood Ragwort edible?

No

### Is Wood Ragwort toxic?

Moderate

### What is Wood Ragwort's lifecycle?

Perennial

## 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: [Wood Ragwort: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wood-ragwort)