Senecio
Groundsel, Ragwort
- Height × spread
- 0.3m – 1.3m × 0.5m – 0.6m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
There are around a thousand species of Senecio. They cover a large range of varieties from annuals, biennials and perennials, to shrubs, climbers and even compact trees. They are found all over the world, many forms are tender and some, such as Senecio cannabifolius, are found growing in Siberia. The plants include the common weed of gardens, groundsel, and the weed of fields, ragwort. The popular silver foliaged container plant Cineraria, actually belongs to this genus (Senecio cineraria). A number of forms are succulent in character with fleshy trunks such as Senecio serpens that is recommended for dry gardens, perhaps being brought in for winter. Senecio generally have yellow flowers, but there are varieties that have white or purple blooms. Many forms are grown for their foliage interest such as silvered Senecio viravira, a filigree masterpiece. This genus has a number of plants that may also be sold under the names of other genus such as Brachyglottis and Ligularia.
- Flower colour
- Purple, Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 0.3m – 1.3m
- Spread
- 0.5m – 0.6m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Wild flower meadow, Gravel garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, some are not hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover, Bee attraction
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Planting & general
Outdoors
Feed & mulch some rose varieties differently
To keep roses healthy and produce more flowers, feed during the growing season before and after flowering. Roses in containers should be fed more often than those planted in the ground, every two weeks from mid spring to late summer. Adding a mulch around the base of a rose will trap moisture and enrich the soil as it biodegrades.
Outdoors
Water some varieties differently
Some plants within this genus have additional requirements for water. It is best to look up your specific plant, or the species it belongs to for watering guidance.
Compost · Planting
Loam based compost for repotting
Repot using any good quality standard compost.
Alternatively prepare a special compost that is best suited to the plant's needs: mix equal amounts of loam (John Innes no. 2 or 3), fine bark and grit.
Compost · Planting
Multi-purpose compost
Use a good quality peat-free multi-purpose compost when growing in pots and containers.
Found in
More Senecio
Senecio candicans 'Angel Wings'
Sea cabbage
Senecio 'Mount Everest'
Senecio cephalophorus
Mountain fire
Senecio cephalophorus 'Orange Flame'
Mountain fire
Senecio doria
Doria groundsel
Senecio polyodon
Stem-toothed groundsel
Senecio polyodon 'Vivid Violet'
Pink ragwort
Senecio cineraria
Silver cineraria, Sea ragwort, Silver groundsel