Jacobaea vulgaris subsp. vulgaris
Tansy ragwort, Tansy Ragwort
(c) Jon Sullivan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Jacobaea vulgaris subsp. vulgaris (Tansy ragwort) is a non-native California perennial in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Jacobaea was recently separated from Senecio and represents a distinct Eurasian lineage, with this species being the only established….
Tansy ragwort is a naturalized perennial herb found in northern California coastal regions, Klamath Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada, Sacramento Valley, and San Francisco Bay Area in pastures, moist ground, and open woods at elevations below 1,525 meters. Flowering from April to November, this plant produces yellow ray flowers with dark disk centers in rounded clusters 10 to 60 flower heads wide. Growing 2 to 5.5 meters tall with often purple-tinged stems, it develops from a taproot with sparsely cobwebby-hairy foliage. Its leaves are pinnately lobed, with broadly ovate blades 4 to 25 centimeters long featuring obovate to spoon-shaped lobes with dentate margins. The fruit is small, approximately 2 millimeters long, with tan ray fruits persisting after disk fruits fall.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Jacobaea was recently separated from Senecio and represents a distinct Eurasian lineage, with this species being the only established representative in California
Habitat and range
Habitat: Pastures, moist ground, disturbed areas, open woods
Elevation: < 1525 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, eastern North America, native to Eurasia
Bloom period
Jacobaea vulgaris subsp. vulgaris blooms Apr-Nov.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
Frequently asked questions
Is Jacobaea vulgaris subsp. vulgaris native to California?
No. Jacobaea vulgaris subsp. vulgaris is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Jacobaea vulgaris subsp. vulgaris bloom?
Jacobaea vulgaris subsp. vulgaris blooms Apr-Nov.
What plant family does Jacobaea vulgaris subsp. vulgaris belong to?
Jacobaea vulgaris subsp. vulgaris is in the Asteraceae family, genus Jacobaea.
Is Jacobaea vulgaris subsp. vulgaris invasive in California?
Jacobaea vulgaris subsp. vulgaris is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Jacobaea vulgaris subsp. vulgaris grow in?
Jacobaea vulgaris subsp. vulgaris grows in Pastures, moist ground, disturbed areas, open woods.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.