Flower profile

Ragwort

Jacobaea vulgaris

Introduced in the lower 48

Ragwort is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–October.

14states

2of our state lists

9,020U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Oregon, Washington

🚫

Regulated invasive plant in Oregon and Washington. It's on those states' official invasive plant lists (Oregon: "B" noxious weed (sale and transport prohibited) (as Senecio jacobaea); Washington: Class B noxious weed (control required in listed regions)). Please don't plant or share it there. ^{OAR 603-052-1200 WAC 16-750}

Quick look

Jacobaea vulgaris, synonym Senecio jacobaea, is a very common wild flower in the family Asteraceae that is native to northern Eurasia, usually in dry, open places, and has also been widely distributed as a weed elsewhere.
From Wikipedia's article Jacobaea vulgaris, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Asteraceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 14 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to Oregon and Washington. ^NatureServe
In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–October. ^iNaturalist
In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–October. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 4,850 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #24 among the 110 flowers on our Oregon list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 3,858 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #39 among the 110 flowers on our Washington list. ^iNaturalist

State flower gift ideas

This one is a regulated invasive plant, so here are state flower gifts instead.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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State flower print
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Birth-flower necklace
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Wildflower seed favors
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Botanical tea towel
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Pressed-flower frame
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Flower-garden mug
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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (956 records)

Bloom time in each of our 2 states

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Oregon	Introduced	June–October	4,850
Washington	Introduced	June–October	3,858

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Oregon: Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Oregon. ^{OAR 603-073-0070}
Washington: No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Washington.
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: medium). Poisonous parts: flowers, leaves, roots, stems. Symptoms they list: “Chronically delayed toxicity. Some include lethargy, vomiting, central nervous system signs of hepatic failure.” ^{NC State Extension}

For petsCan be a problem for cats, dogs and horses

NC State Extension flags it as a problem for cats, dogs and horses. It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. ^{NC State Extension}

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records ragwort in 14 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wyoming.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Washington, Wheeler, Yamhill.

Washington counties with USDA records: Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Ferry, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom, Whitman, Yakima.

More Oregon flowers

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in OR: May–August

Chicory

Cichorium intybus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in OR: June–October

Bull thistle

Cirsium vulgare

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in OR: July–October

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile SEJA.
iNaturalist, Jacobaea vulgaris: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Jacobaea vulgaris (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Oregon: Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070).
Oregon: Oregon noxious weed quarantine, A and B weeds (OAR 603-052-1200).
Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Jacobaea vulgaris (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Harry Podschwit via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.