Mertensia virginica en masse. — Mertensia virginica en masse. Photo © Mary Free

Packera aurea (Golden or Heartleaf Ragwort)

Packera aurea (Golden or Heartleaf Ragwort) basal leaves in January

Packera aurea (Golden or Heartleaf Ragwort) flower buds

Packera aurea (Golden or Heartleaf Ragwort) basal and upper leaves and flowers

Packera aurea (Golden or Heartleaf Ragwort) flowers

Packera aurea (Golden or Heartleaf Ragwort) in residential border

Packera aurea (Golden or Heartleaf Ragwort) en masse for erosion control

Packera aurea (Golden or Heartleaf Ragwort) pappi and seeds

Packera aurea (Golden or Heartleaf Ragwort) Potomac Overlook Regional Park

Packera aurea (Golden or Heartleaf Ragwort) at Norfolk Botanical Garden.

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Earlier classified as Senecio aureus, this native wildflower grows in moist fields and woods throughout much of the eastern half of North America and as far west as Texas. Golden flowers bloom for about three weeks. After they have faded, shiny basal foliage serves as a pretty ground cover. Ground Cover En Masse, Close-up, Seed Heads, Basal Leaves Height: 1⁄2–21⁄2 feet Spread: 1⁄2–11⁄2 feet Bloom Color: Yellow Characteristics Clump-forming, evergreen herbaceous perennial Toothed, heart-shaped basal leaves are medium green to dark green with a purple tinge underneath; stem leaves are sparse and pinnately lobed Daisy-like flowers bloom in flat-topped clusters on top of tall stems in April followed by one- seeded fruits (cypselas) with white barbellulate bristles (pappi) Spreads, very aggressively in optimal conditions, by self-seeding and root colonizing Attributes Tolerates wet soil and seasonal flooding; no serious pests or diseases; deer rarely damage Blooms well even in shade Basal foliage may perform as evergreen ground cover with adequate moisture & in mild winters Ethnobotanic uses; may be harmful if ingested Attracts bees (sweat bee pictured in close-up) and butterflies; larval host of The Gem moth Growing and Maintenance Tips Excellent Replacement for Soil Requirements: Average Alliaria petiolata - Garlic Mustard Light Requirements: Sun, Partial Shade, Shade Euonymus fortunei - Wintercreeper Water Requirements: Moist, Wet Ficaria verna - Fig Buttercup Remove flowering stems after bloom (and before seeds scatter to control spread if desired) Hedera helix - English Ivy Ornithogalum species - Star of Bethlehem Use in woodland gardens and to control erosion Ranunculus ficaria - Lesser Celandine Hardiness: USDA Zones 3–8 Vinca minor - Periwinkle developed by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, serving Arlington and Alexandria Images by Elaine Mills (top left), private garden, Arlington and Mary Free, Quarry Shade Garden

Tried and True Native Plant Selections
for the Mid-Atlantic

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Packera aurea (Golden or Heartleaf Ragwort)

Earlier classified as Senecio aureus, this native wildflower grows in moist fields and woods throughout much of the eastern half of North America and as far west as Texas. Golden flowers bloom for about three weeks and after they have faded, shiny basal foliage serves as a pretty ground cover.

Learn more about other Mid-Atlantic plants:
Tried and True Native Plant Fact Sheets

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