Senecio jacobaea
Senecio jacobaea · Asteraceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant senecio jacobaea: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- June to September
- Adult size
- 60–100 cm in height
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Hardy, down to –15 °C
- Origin
- Western and central Europe
- Soil type
- Well-drained, poor to average
Care
Exposure
Position it in direct sunlight for optimal flowering. It tolerates partial shade but growth will be less vigorous. Prefers well-ventilated and open locations.
Watering
Moderate and irregular: water only during prolonged dry spells. This plant prefers dry periods and dreads excess moisture. Once established, it manages without supplementary watering.
Soil
Prefers poor, dry and well-drained soils. Avoid rich or overly compact soils that promote soft growth and disease sensitivity. Adapts to many pH levels, including chalky ones.
Pruning and training
Remove spent flowers to extend flowering. Light cutting back after flowering in autumn helps maintain a compact form. Requires little regular maintenance.
Fertilizer
Generally unnecessary, even counterproductive: poor soils suit it better. Over-rich feeding promotes soft vegetation at the expense of flowers.
Pests and diseases
Robust and little susceptible. May be targeted by aphids under intensive cultivation. Dreads powdery mildew if moisture is stagnant. Well-ventilated, it resists common pests and diseases excellently.
Did you know?
Meadow ragwort is a classic herb of European wild meadows, once valued in traditional medicine. Its name 'jacobaea' evokes the apostle Saint James, and it bears in English the picturesque nickname 'ragwort' (rag-like herb). Today, botanists are fascinated by its role as a privileged host plant for the Cinnabar moth, a striking black and red butterfly whose caterpillars feed exclusively on its leaves.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.