Bloomipedia
Golden ragwort (Packera aurea)
Photo: Ron Burkert via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Golden ragwort

Packera aurea

Golden ragwort (Packera aurea) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–May across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Golden ragwort is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.

32states where USDA records it
3Bloomipedia state lists include it
13,105U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia

Quick look

Packera aurea, commonly known as golden ragwort or simply ragwort, is a perennial flower in the family Asteraceae.

  • It belongs to the Asteraceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 32 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia. NatureServe
  • In Virginia, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
  • In Maryland, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 3.9 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 2,197 research-grade sightings of it in Virginia, ranking #78 among the 189 flowers on our Virginia list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,578 research-grade sightings of it in Maryland, ranking #85 among the 189 flowers on our Maryland list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 651 research-grade sightings of it in West Virginia, ranking #52 among the 153 flowers on our West Virginia list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,644 records)
Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
VirginiaNativeApril–June2,197
MarylandNativeApril–May1,578
West VirginiaNativefew records (44)651

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: S5, secure in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maryland. COMAR 08.03.08
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in West Virginia.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MS (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: leaves. Symptoms they list: “Liver toxicity; skin irritation following contact.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records golden ragwort in 32 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Virginia counties with USDA records: Accomack, Albemarle, Alleghany, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Arlington, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Buchanan, Buckingham, Campbell, Carroll, Charles City, Charlotte, Chesapeake , Chesterfield, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Cumberland, Dickenson, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Floyd, Fluvanna, Franklin, Frederick, Giles, Gloucester, Goochland, Grayson, Greene, Hampton , Hanover, Henrico, Henry, Highland, Isle of Wight, James City, King George, King and Queen, Lancaster, Lee, Loudoun, Louisa, Lunenburg, Madison, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, Montgomery, Nelson, New Kent, Newport News , Northampton, Nottoway, Orange, Page, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Prince William, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Surry, Sussex, Tazewell, Virginia Beach , Warren, Washington, Wise, Wythe, York.

West Virginia counties with USDA records: Barbour, Berkeley, Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Fayette, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hancock, Hardy, Kanawha, Logan, Marion, McDowell, Mercer, Mineral, Monongalia, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Preston, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Summers, Taylor, Tucker, Upshur, Wetzel, Wirt, Wyoming.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Golden ragwort a low shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.5 to 8.5 and winter lows down to -43 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium, fine
Soil pH range
4.5 to 8.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-43 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
120
Annual precipitation range
15 to 55 inches
Minimum root depth
6 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Short
Active growth period
Spring
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by
container, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for PAAU3. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Senecio aureus, Senecio gracilis.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 847 counties across 27 states; the most are in Virginia (90), Pennsylvania (67), Ohio (66).

Other Packera on Bloomipedia (3): Butterweed, Small's ragwort, Lobeleaf groundsel.

More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Sunflowers, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion.

More Virginia flowers

Chicory (Cichorium intybus)

Chicory

Cichorium intybus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in VA: June–October
Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia)

Wingstem

Verbesina alternifolia

Native

🌼 Blooms in VA: August–October
Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in VA: May–August

Sources