Packera aurea

A colony of golden ragwort in flower is a stunning sight: a dense layer of yellow-orange blooms sits elevated above a lush carpet of large, rounded leaves. The floral display can be seen for several weeks in the springtime in riparian forests and other moist woodlands across NE Ohio.

In the home landscape, golden ragwort grows well in soils of wet to average moisture and in full sun or shade. The plant may need to be watered during dry spells, especially if planted in a sunny spot. Golden ragwort makes an outstanding addition to the shade garden, where it looks especially striking in the springtime alongside the blue, bell-shaped blossoms of Jacob’s ladder.

Spreading by both seed and rhizome, golden ragwort tends to form a colony, and with its abundant basal foliage, it can even function as a groundcover under favorable conditions. The foliage is persistent throughout the growing season and well into the winter, displaying a semi-evergreen character.

Golden ragwort’s blooms are an excellent springtime source of pollen and nectar for a variety of small bees and flies, such as the small carpenter bee. These important pollinators nest in hollowed-out plant stems and emerge from hibernation just about the time that golden ragwort is in full bloom.

References: 1,2,3,4,5,6.

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