Native Plants

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Brundage, Stephanie

Packera obovata

Packera obovata (Muhl. ex Willd.) W.A. Weber & Á. Löve

Golden Groundsel, Roundleaf Groundsel, Roundleaf Ragwort

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Senecio obovatus, Senecio obovatus var. elliottii, Senecio obovatus var. rotundus, Senecio rotundus

USDA Symbol: PAOB6

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Golden Groundsel is a rosette-forming perennial with several runner-like stolons terminated by similar rosettes. Slender flowering stems rise to 1 1/2 ft. above the rosettes of oval leaves. Flower clusters are few- to many-headed; the yellow flowers heads occuring on slender pedicels.

Golden Groundsel brings color to shaded spots in the landscape. Once established, it colonizes quickly and creates an effective, evergreen ground cover. It is often one of the earliest bloomers of the year.

From the Image Gallery

48 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Retention: Evergreen , Semi-evergreen
Inflorescence: Head
Size Notes: Up to about 20 inches tall.
Flower: Flowers 3/4 inch wide
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun
Bloom Notes: Blooms February to April in southerly regions, April to June in the north.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WV
Canada: ON , QC
Native Distribution: Quebec and Ontario south through the eastern US to Coahuila; rare northward, common southward.
Native Habitat: Calcareous rocks, slopes & rich, wooded banks. Usually in limestone soil. Moist, well-drained loam, clay.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low , Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist, well-drained, humus-rich, preferably calcareous soils. Loam or clay.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: A good herb-layer groundcover for limestone woodlands in eastern North America. Creates a yellow glow in spring when planted en masse.
Use Wildlife: Flowers attract bees and butterflies.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: High

Propagation

Propagation Material: Root Division , Seeds
Description: Propagate by fresh seed or root division during winter dormancy.
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Cut back bloom stalks after seed dispersal.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

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June 16, 2010
What native grass can I grow in deep East Texas that would require no supplemental watering and no mowing?
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Ground cover for trails in Northeast Texas
January 09, 2008
I have several acres of wooded land in Northeast Texas, Southern Lamar County. Both sandy and black land. I have created trails through the woods and would like to plant a native ground cover or gras...
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Spring blooming plants for spring sun and summer shade
July 03, 2007
I live in San Antonio. I'm faced with a dilemma. I've got mature native pecans. In the summer they provide beautiful full shade. However, in the winter and even into the late spring, my yard is ...
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National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACU		FACU		FACU	FACU		FACU	FACU

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Patsy Glenn Refuge, c/o Wimberley Birding Society - Wimberley, TX
NPSOT - Native Plant Society of Texas - Fredericksburg, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0298 Collected Mar. 10, 1992 in Bexar County by Judith C. Berry
NPSOT 0189 Collected Mar. 14, 1992 in Bexar County by Lottie Millsaps

2 specimen(s) available in the Digital Herbarium

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-647 Collected 2008-06-02 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski
Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Packera obovata in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Packera obovata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Packera obovata

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-30
Research By: TWC Staff, WFS

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