In the May garden, the classic combination of yellow and blue can bring to mind the striking colors of a Van Gogh painting. The contrast provided by a brilliant yellow cloud of golden ragwort, surrounded by blue and purple waves of Jacob’s ladder and woodland phlox, is every bit as dramatic as the bold strokes in his Starry Night landscape.
Golden ragwort, a perennial in the aster family, is valued for its ability to thrive in moist or dry conditions, in both full sun or light shade, and produce flowers from mid- to late spring. This adaptable plant naturalizes rapidly, the foliage providing an excellent semi-evergreen ground cover for those tricky areas.
A typical golden ragwort plant stands 1-2’ tall. While the basal leaves grow larger, an attractive purple stem grows from the center of the plant. The small, almost fern-like leaves on the central stalk are dramatically different from the heart-shaped basal leaves. These are typically purple on the underside, providing a glossy contrast to the bright spring green on top.
Multiple flower heads create an airy spray of golden yellow floating above the leaves. Golden ragwort functions as a host plant for the threatened northern metalmark butterfly, and the nectar and pollen of the flowers attract a wide variety of pollinators
A welcoming stand of golden ragwort can be found blooming on the edge of the SBG’s Woodland Garden. Add some golden ragwort to your palette of plants and you’ll be guaranteed a splash of spring color!
Photo: Center for Sustainable Environment, fandm.edu
Golden ragwort, a perennial in the aster family, is valued for its ability to thrive in moist or dry conditions, in both full sun or light shade, and produce flowers from mid- to late spring. This adaptable plant naturalizes rapidly, the foliage providing an excellent semi-evergreen ground cover for those tricky areas.
A typical golden ragwort plant stands 1-2’ tall. While the basal leaves grow larger, an attractive purple stem grows from the center of the plant. The small, almost fern-like leaves on the central stalk are dramatically different from the heart-shaped basal leaves. These are typically purple on the underside, providing a glossy contrast to the bright spring green on top.
Multiple flower heads create an airy spray of golden yellow floating above the leaves. Golden ragwort functions as a host plant for the threatened northern metalmark butterfly, and the nectar and pollen of the flowers attract a wide variety of pollinators
A welcoming stand of golden ragwort can be found blooming on the edge of the SBG’s Woodland Garden. Add some golden ragwort to your palette of plants and you’ll be guaranteed a splash of spring color!
Photo: Center for Sustainable Environment, fandm.edu
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