Bloomipedia
Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris)
Photo: Harry Podschwit via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Ragwort

Jacobaea vulgaris

Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–September across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Ragwort is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in July–September.

14states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
9,020U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Oregon, Washington

🚫
Regulated invasive plant in Oregon and Washington. It's on those states' official invasive plant lists (Oregon: "B" noxious weed (sale and transport prohibited) (as Senecio jacobaea); Washington: Class B noxious weed (control required in listed regions)). Please don't plant or share it there. OAR 603-052-1200 WAC 16-750

Quick look

Jacobaea vulgaris, synonym Senecio jacobaea, is a very common wild flower in the family Asteraceae that is native to northern Eurasia, usually in dry, open places, and has also been widely distributed as a weed elsewhere.

  • 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 introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 14 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as not native to Oregon and Washington. NatureServe
  • In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–September. iNaturalist
  • In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–August. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 4,850 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #24 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,858 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #40 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (956 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
OregonIntroducedJuly–September4,850
WashingtonIntroducedJuly–August3,858

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Washington.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

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: medium). Poisonous parts: flowers, leaves, roots, stems. Symptoms they list: “Chronically delayed toxicity. Some include lethargy, vomiting, central nervous system signs of hepatic failure.” NC State Extension

For petsCan be a problem for cats, dogs and horses

NC State Extension flags it as a problem for cats, dogs and horses. It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. NC State Extension

🌿 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 ragwort in 14 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wyoming.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Washington, Wheeler, Yamhill.

Washington counties with USDA records: Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Ferry, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom, Whitman, Yakima.

Names, range and relatives

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

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 91 counties across 12 states; the most are in Oregon (27), Washington (27), Idaho (14).

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 Oregon flowers

Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in OR: May–August
Lawn daisy (Bellis perennis)

Lawn daisy

Bellis perennis

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in OR: March–June
Common woolly sunflower (Eriophyllum lanatum)

Common woolly sunflower

Eriophyllum lanatum

Native

🌼 Blooms in OR: May–July

Sources