Invasive Species Council of British Columbia
Invasive Plant

Tansy ragwort

Senecio jacobaea
Warning icon

Warning

Tansy ragwort can cause liver damage in livestock.

About This Species

Tansy ragwort (Common ragwort, Stinking willie, Staggerwort) is a biennial to short-lived perennial that grows in pasturelands and disturbed areas. Seeds are easily transported by wind, soils, human activity, and livestock. A single plant can produce 150,000 seeds that can survive in the soil for up to 15 years. Tansy ragwort is designated as a Provincial Noxious Weed by the BC Weed Control Act, as well as a Management species by the BC Provincial Priority Invasive Species List. 

How to Identify

Tansy ragwort can grow to be 0.2-1.2 m in height with purplish stems. 

It has bright yellow daisy-like flowers with 10-15 petals each. Flowers are arranged in a dense, flat-topped cluster. 

Leaves are dark green and ruffled, becoming ragged in appearance during their second year of growth.  

 

Take Action

Prevention is the best approach.

Play Clean Go

PlayCleanGo

Learn about best practices

REPORT TO PROTECT BC’S BIODIVERSITY

Use the app

Observe and report to protect BC’s biodiversity

Report through this website

Use our form to tell us what you’re seeing and where.

CONTACT INFORMATION

INVASIVE SPECIES INFORMATION

Click or drag files to this area to upload. You can upload up to 3 files.
Please include photos of the suspected species to help potential identification by experts.
Please be specific and give us an address if possible.