Packera aurea, Golden Ragwort, Ground Cover 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 in color 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 achenes (tiny one-seeded fruits) with fluffy white hairs 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, butterflies; larval host of The Gem moth Growing and Maintenance Tips Soil Requirements: Average Light Requirements: Sun, Partial Shade, Shade Water Requirements: Moist, Wet Remove flowering stems after bloom (and before seeds scatter to control spread if desired) Use in woodland gardens and to control erosion Hardiness: USDA Zones 3–8 Excellent Replacement for Alliaria petiolata - Garlic Mustard Euonymus fortunei - Wintercreeper Ficaria verna - Fig Buttercup Hedera helix - English Ivy Ornithogalum species - Star of Bethlehem Ranunculus ficaria - Lesser Celandine Vinca minor – Periwinkle
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