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Prairie Groundsel
Packera plattensis

a.k.a. Prairie Ragwort

Prairie Ragwort is a short-lived perennial commonly found in dry open prairie habitat. It is a drought tolerant plant that can spread by roots to form colonies. Small bees, butterflies, and flies are attracted to its yellow flowers.

USDA symbol: PAPL12

General Information

Plant TypeForb
Height1 to 2 feet
Light ExposureSun, Part Sun
Soil MoistureDry
Bloom ColorYellow
Prairie Groundsel (Prairie Groundsel<div><em class="small">Packera plattensis</em></div>)
Photo credit: Minnesota Wildflowers (Click to enlarge)

Tolerances

Flooding / Inundation ToleranceLow
General Resilience6
Salt ToleranceUnknown
Stress ToleranceDrought Tolerant

Pollinator Value: High

Bloom MonthsMay to June
Pollinator BenefitInsect Pollinated, Provides Nectar, Supports Generalists

Project Planning

Project TypeRain Garden, Restoration
Coefficient of Conservatism5
Herbivore SensitivityLow
LifespanBiennial, Perennial
Rate of SpreadMedium
Soil StabilizationShallow
Vegetative ReproductionClonal

Range

CountyAnoka, Becker, Beltrami, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Dakota, Douglas, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Roseau, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Washington, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine
EcoregionDriftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Glaciated Plains, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains
Approximate Eco ProvinceEastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands