All About Growing the Butterweed

Also known as yellow top or cress-leaf groundsel, the butterweed is a member of the aster family of plants. Botanically, it is known as Packera glabella or its synonym Senecio glabellus. It is native to the United States.

Butterweed Description

Growing 18 to 20 inches tall, this succulent annual has stout stems and deeply divided leaves. Flowers are in large clusters and daisy-like in appearance. Leaves get smaller as they get to the upper part of the plant. It grows dense enough to make for a ground cover. Bloom season is between March and May. Leaves come out in the fall season.

Growing Guide

The butterweed prefers full sun or partial shade with a moist soil. It has a low drought tolerance. Propagate by seed. It may self-sow if left alone.

Distribution

This native is found in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas. It is seen in the open woods and the swampy grasslands.

Uses

This has dense blooms for a section of the garden that needs more color. It also will attract both bees and butterflies to the landscape because of its nectar.

Classification

Kingdom Plantae- Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta- Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta- Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta- Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida- Dicotyledons

Subclass Asteridae

Order Asterales

Family Asteraceae- Aster family

Genus Packera A. Löve & D. Löve- ragwort

Species Packera glabella (Poir.) C. Jeffrey- butterweed

Source: PlantsDatabase, NPIN