Latin name: Senecio vulgaris

Family: Asteraceae

Common name:  common groundsel

Life cycle: winter annual; it germinates and grows most prolifically during cooler months, however, in Oregon's cool summers  it germinates and grows year round.

Habit: upright, branched, up to 18 inches tall

Foliage: Leaves are green, 2 to 4 inches long, and lobed.

Flower:  Flower heads occur in clusters, with each flower head being composed of many small disk flowers.  Each flower head is yellow, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, and cigar shaped.

Seed:  Seeds, when mature, are covered with a white cottony material called pappus.  This feature enables seed to travel long distances via wind dispersal.

Seedlings: Cotyledons are long and narrow with smooth entire margins.  First true leaves are lobed.

Notes:  Common groundsel can often be seen infected with a rust fungus.

Control: Evaluate 2003 container herbicide trials for this and other common weeds.

Control: View 2004 container herbicide trials for this and other common weeds.