Tall Ragwort
Senecio serra
- Native to:
- United States
Unknown author Unknown author
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Senecio
- Species:
- Senecio serra
- USDA Symbol:
- SESE2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Subshrub
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Reported Fauna Sightings
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from rhizomes following fire; commonly found in post-fire meadow communities.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or rocky soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers open, sunny habitats
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds should undergo cold moist stratification for 90 days for maximum germination. Some seeds may germinate without stratification, but the germination rate is significantly higher with stratification.
Establishment: Seeds are collected when the pappus begins to expand, usually in late July. The collection window is narrow as seeds are wind disseminated and must be collected before they blow away. Seeds remaining on the plants after most have been dispersed are generally not viable. Seeds can be collected using a vacuum cleaner to remove only mature seeds and reduce the amount of trash which subsequently must be cleaned from the seeds.
Source: npn.rngr.net