Golden Groundsel (Packera aurea)
Golden Groundsel (Packera aurea)
Low stock: 10 left
Couldn't load pickup availability
Packera aurea (L.) Á. Löve & D. Löve
Golden Groundsel, Golden Ragwort, Butterweed
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Synonym(s): Senecio aureus, Senecio aureus var. aquilonius, Senecio aureus var. gracilis, Senecio aureus var. intercursus, Senecio gracilis
USDA Symbol: paau3
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N), SPM (N)
Golden groundsel’s stout, thick, basal offshoots creep horizontally and send up erect flowering stems 1-3 ft. in height. Flowers are deep golden-yellow, daisy-like and showy. Heart-shaped basal leaves are dark-green above and purple beneath. The stem leaves are lobed. The roots colonize and the plant can achieve a groundcover effect over time.
Plant Characteristics
Habit: Herb
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Inflorescence: Head
Size Notes: Leaves to 4 inches. Flowers on 2 to 3 foot stalks.
Leaf: Green above, purplish below.
Flower: Flower 1 inch across.
Fruit: White. Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WVCanada: MB , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC
Native Distribution: Quebec to GA, w. to MN & LA. Eastern North America, Zones 3 to 9
Native Habitat: Meadows; boggy swales; low woods
Growing Conditions
Water Use: Medium , HighLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Rich, acidic soils.
Conditions Comments: Prefers moisture but also found growing in dryish areas. Tolerates seasonal flooding.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: When planted en masse, can lend a golden glow to the spring woodland landscape.Use Wildlife: Flowers attract bees.
Use Medicinal: Root and leaf tea used by Amerindians to treat delayed and irregular menses, childbirth complications, lung ailments, dysentery, difficult urination. (Foster & Duke) Toxic! Tea made of whole plant used for problems associated with the female reproductive tract and to speed childbirth. Substitute for ergot. (Weiner)
Warning: POISONOUS PARTS: Leaves, but only low toxicity if touched or ingested. Symptoms include liver toxicity, skin irritation following contact. Toxic Principle: Pyrrolizidine alkaloids. (Poisonous Plants of N.C.)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=paau3
Image Information
Photographer: Brundage, Stephanie
County: Clay
State: NC
Location Notes: Buck Creek Road, Nantahala National Forest.
Accession date: 2019-03-01
Filename: SCB_IMG2148.JPG
Slide Index: 050318BuckCreek44e
Restrictions: Unrestricted
Collection: Wildflower Center Digital Library
Original Format: Digital
Orientation: Landscape
Shot: Close-up of radiate capitula in a corymbiform capitulescence.
Date Taken: 2018-05-03
NPIN Image Id: 66576
