Golden Ragwort

Packera aurea

many bright yellow flowers
“Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea)” by Joshua Mayer, via Flickr. (cropped from original) CC BY-SA 2.0.
bright yellow flowers on a branching plant
“Golden Ragwort” by Dan Mullen, via Flickr. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Ecological Benefits: attracts very diverse pollinators such as numerous bees, flies, and 20 butterfly species; host plant for larval stage of various butterflies and moths

Bloom period: mid to late spring

Best Areas for Planting: medium moisture; full sun, part shade or full shade; well-drained soils that are acidic, neutral, or alkaline

Natural Habitat: can be found in wet environments such as swamps and floodplains, moist meadows, stream banks, or upland forests

Most of the species information is from The Virginia Native Plant Society website, which offers free, extensive pdfs for each region of Virginia, highlighting about 100 native species (there are many more!) and helpful additional information for planning personal projects. If you aren’t from Virginia, you can search for similar resources in your state! To explore other resources and advice, navigate to the guidance page.

Visit the homepage to explore other sites and learn more about native plants.