Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)

Is a native weed and is spread throughout the UK, becoming a particular problem leading to a number of high profile campaigns. Because of its toxicity to grazing animals, it is now included in the new UK Invasive Weed Legislation (The Ragwort Control Act 2003) and is also listed as injurious under the Weeds Act 1959.

Ragwort is a biennial plant, meaning it completes it's lifecycle over 2 years, growing from seed to rosette in the first year and rosette to flowering in the second. Flowering Ragwort is a familiar site from July through to October but the plant is best tackled when it is less visible at the rosette stage in Spring/early Summer.

How to identify Common Ragwort

Japanese Knotweed

Giant Hogweed

Common Ragwort

Himalayan Balsam

Buddleia

Aqautic Invasive Weeds

rosette

flowering

flowerhead

Why is it a problem?

Ragwort plants contain Pyrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs) which are highly toxic to grazing animals, despite this, ragwort levels seem to be on the increase.  Humans may also be vulnerable to PA poisoning which can be absorbed through the skin, therefore plants should not be handled with bare hands or the pollen inhaled.

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