Bloomipedia
Small's ragwort (Packera anonyma)
Photo: Joshua Johnson via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Small's ragwort

Packera anonyma

Native in the lower 48

Small's ragwort is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native 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 April–June.

19states
2of our state lists
5,074U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Georgia, South Carolina

Quick look

Packera anonyma, called Appalachian ragwort and Small's ragwort, is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae.

  • 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 native in the lower 48 states and records it in 19 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Georgia and South Carolina. NatureServe
  • In Georgia, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • In South Carolina, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,834 research-grade sightings of it in Georgia, ranking #34 among the 111 flowers on our Georgia list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 410 research-grade sightings of it in South Carolina, ranking #95 among the 111 flowers on our South Carolina list. iNaturalist

Small's ragwort gift ideas

Handmade small's ragwort gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (637 records)
Bloom time in each of our 2 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
GeorgiaNativeApril–May1,834
South CarolinaNativeApril–May410

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: S5, secure in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
South Carolina
No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in South Carolina.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: CT (S1), DE (S1), LA (S2), NJ (S1), PA (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

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

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. 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 small's ragwort in 19 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.

Georgia counties with USDA records: Baldwin, Bartow, Ben Hill, Bibb, Catoosa, Clarke, Clay, Cook, Dade, DeKalb, Dodge, Dooly, Elbert, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Grady, Greene, Hall, Harris, Hart, Heard, Lamar, Laurens, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Morgan, Murray, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Pickens, Putnam, Rabun, Richmond, Rockdale, Taylor, Troup, Turner, Walker, Walton, Washington, Wilkes.

South Carolina counties with USDA records: Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dorchester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Florence, Greenville, Hampton, Horry, Lancaster, Laurens, Lexington, Marion, Marlboro, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union, Williamsburg, York.

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Sources