Photo: Hans HillewaertCC BY-SA 3.0via Wikimedia Commonsresized / cropped
Water Ragwort Plant Care
Jacobaea aquatica (Hill) G.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Jacobaea aquatica or Senecio aquaticus, the water ragwort or marsh ragwort, is a plant of the family Asteraceae. It is a perennial or biennial plant: young plants form a rosette near the ground, eventually producing a taller flowering shoot with many bright yellow flower heads, each with prominent ray florets. It grows in damp, grazed grassland, especially where there has been some disturbance.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–75°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Water Ragwort?
Water Water Ragwort every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.
What Is the Water Ragwort?
Water Ragwort (Jacobaea aquatica) belongs to the Asteraceae family within the Jacobaea genus. Water Ragwort is also known as Water Groundsel, Senecio aquaticus, Senecio quercifolius.
Water Ragwort displays an upright, bushy perennial growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Water Ragwort produces bright yellow daisy-like flowers in clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Water Ragwort?
Jacobaea aquatica requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Water Ragwort Need?
Water Ragwort thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Water Ragwort Prefer?
Jacobaea aquatica grows best at temperatures of 50–75°F. Water Ragwort prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
50–75°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Water Ragwort?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Water Ragwort to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Water Ragwort?
Feed Water Ragwort every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Water Ragwort?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Water Ragwort?
Water Ragwort can be propagated through seeds, division. Similar propagation techniques also apply to adonis-leaved ragwort plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Water Ragwort Toxic to Pets and Children?
Toxic (caution)
Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.
Toxic to humans and pets if ingested
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Water Ragwort?
Water Ragwort is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, caterpillars. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Water Ragwort Need?
Water Ragwort grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Water Ragwort as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Water Ragwort is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Jacobaea genus — compare its care with other Jacobaea species on PlantoScan.
Jacobaea is part of the Asteraceae plant family — browse all Asteraceae genera and species.
Water Ragwort thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Jacobaea Species
Other Jacobaea species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Jacobaea aquatica (Hill) G.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb., family Asteraceae (first published in Oekon. Fl. Wetterau 3(1): 210 (1801)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Water Ragwort is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons — original.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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