Groundsel

Groundsel Overview

Senecio vulgaris is a herbaceous annual that can grow up to 45cm tall. It flowers throughout the summer, producing interesting yellow blooms. It is self-pollinating and spread seeds quickly, they are dispersed by the wind and can catch on animal fur or human clothing. The seeds provide food for various birds such as finches and canaries throughout the year and this species is an important host species to multiple insects such as the cinnabar moth, Tyria jacobaeae. Considered a weed in many locations and commonly known as groundsel, this species is native to Europe, northern Asia and areas of North Africa. It has a deciduous nature and thus loses its green foliage in the autumn and regrows new leaves in the spring. Its often found on disturbed ground, on sites like the edges of roads.