The plants, consisting of rounded, year-round, dark-green foliage 4 to 5 inches high, spread moderately fast to form an excellent ground cover. Flat-topped flower clusters appear in April and May 12 to 14 inches above the foliage. Part of our Pollinator Buffet plant tag series. The wasp-like cuckoo bee lays its eggs in other bees’ nests. An indicator of healthy bee populations. Many bees, flies, and beetles use the nectar and pollen. Host to northern metalmark butterfly.
Native Plant Database
Header Photo: Mervin Wallace
Golden Ragwort
Packera aurea
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennials
Native Environment: Forest, Stream Edge, Wetland
Season of Interest: Early (Feb - Apr), Mid (May - June)
Main Color: Yellow
Fall Color:
USDA PLANTS Range Map
At the range map link above, zoom in for county-level data
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Medium Sun/Average Shade, Shade
Soil
Moisture
Moderate, High
Nature Attracting
Wildlife Benefit
Animal
Resistance
Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant
Size
Height:
12 to
14
inches
Spread:
12 to
14
inches
Size
Height: 12 to
14
inches
Spread: 12 to
14
inches
Size
Height: 12 to
14
inches
Spread: 12 to
14
inches
Typical Landscape Use
Use in mass in partial sun to sunny formal areas or habitat hardens. Can function as a ground cover. Needs decent soil moisture to slightly wet soil.
Establishment and Care Instructions
The plants prefer some shade, but have been grown successfully in full sun. After plants have gone to seed, the spent stems can be shredded with a string trimmer to make them disappear.
Special Features
Special Usage
Ground Cover, Rainscaping
Basic Description
Where Should I Start?
Check out the Grow Native! Committee’s Top Ten picks of native plants for a particular purpose.
What’s the Next Step?
Picked out your plants? View our Resource Guide of garden centers, seed sources, landscapers, education resources, and more!
Where Can I Find This Plant in Nature?
Learn about the Native Environment(s) inhabited by the plants in this database.