Jacobaea vulgaris

RHS Plant Profile
common ragwort

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common ragwort RHS
common ragwort RHS

Other common names

benweed, binweed, boliaum, cankerweed, common ragweed, fairy's horse, fellon weed, felon weed, keddledock, kettledock, ragweed, ragwort, Saracen's compass, St James' weed, St James' wort, staggerwort, starwort, stinking Willy, tansy ragwort, yellow tops, fireweed

Synonyms

Senecio jacobaea

Annual Biennial Herbaceous Perennial
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An upright biennial or short-lived perennial capable of reaching 1.5m tall, though often much less, with deeply lobed, dark green leaves, often overwintering as a low rosette. Large, flat-topped clusters of yellow, daisy-like flowers appear from mid-summer to mid-autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming, Columnar upright
Potentially harmful
Poisonous to horses and cattle
Genus
A genus of around 35 species of native, flowering biennial or perennial herbaceous plants, previously grouped as Senecio and more commonly known as Ragwort. Stems are upright, foliage pinnate and lobed and clusters of flowers bright yellow and daisy-like in appearance. Although primarily known as being toxic to horses and cattle, it is also a valuable food source for pollinators
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grows naturally in grassland and waste ground, on roadsides and sand dunes. A problem weed in paddocks, and gardens bordering grazing land or land used to grow forage, as it is poisonous to horses and other livestock. Otherwise it is a good plant for wildlife, attracting a range of pollinators and providing the main food plant for cinnabar moth caterpillars. See ragwort for more information

Propagation

Spreads readily by seed, also by offsets and root fragments

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildlife gardens
  • Wildflower meadow

Pruning

No pruning needed. Cutting back is not an effective control method

Pests

Generally pest free

Diseases

Generally disease-free