{"product_id":"balsam-ragwort","title":"Balsam Ragwort (Packera Paupercula)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLocal Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Balsam Ragwort\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003ePackera paupercula\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily:\u003c\/strong\u003e Asteraceae\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNative Status: \u003c\/strong\u003eDakota County Native, MN Native \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLandscape Archetype:\u003c\/strong\u003e Prairie, Savana, Edgeland\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife Cycle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Perennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun Exposure:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, part sun\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil Moisture:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mesic to Wet\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Loam, Silt, Sand, Gravel\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHeight \u0026amp; Width Range: \u003c\/strong\u003eHeight: Ankles (6\"–12\") to low Knees (up to ~16\") Width: 6\"–12\", forming small clumps or loose patches\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Color:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yellow \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMorphology Notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low growing rosettes of basal leaves that look like paddles. Some stems reach up from the rosette to reveal another type of elongated and divided leaf reminiscent of arugula.  In late Spring as the weather turns warm, bright and sunny yellow flowers pop up to 18 inches on leafless stalks. Root system is fibrous, arising from a small caudex with short rhizomes that allow modest clump expansion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFruits and Seeds: \u003c\/strong\u003eThose gorgeous yellow flowers produce small dry dark achenes tipped with a white pappus, maturing in early to mid‑summer and dispersed primarily by wind. Seed heads are modestly ornamental but bare a strong resemblance to dandelion seeds which may be a turn off for some gardeners.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHabit and habitat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low growing clumps that snake around and pop up in-between other plants. Balsam Ragwort tucks itself into the foreground of moist prairies, wet meadows, rocky or loamy stream banks, and prairie–wetland ecotones. Often woven through short sedge and rush matrices beneath taller summer forbs and grasses. It tolerates periodic flooding, fluctuating water tables, and fire, and is frequently associated with intact wet–mesic prairie and meadow remnants rather than heavily degraded turf. Sustained shade can reduce vigor. This plant is a natural fit for rain‑garden edges and wet–mesic matrices such as low laying open areas or at the bottom of slopes. Does well at the edge of walkways, pathways and garden borders. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompanions: \u003c\/strong\u003eMix with social sedges like Fox Sedge (\u003cem\u003eCarex vulpinoidea\u003c\/em\u003e) or Gray’s Sedge (\u003cem\u003eCarex grayii\u003c\/em\u003e) or mix textures with Fringed Brome (\u003cem\u003eBromus ciliatus\u003c\/em\u003e), Early Meadow Rue (\u003cem\u003eThalictrum dioicum\u003c\/em\u003e), and Canada Anemone (\u003cem\u003eAnemone canadensis\u003c\/em\u003e). Underplant taller forbs like Joe Pye Weed, Amsonia or Swamp Milkweed (\u003cem\u003eAsclepias incarnata\u003c\/em\u003e) with the ragwort and mix in some \u003cem\u003eViolet Sp.\u003c\/em\u003e such as \u003cem\u003eViola cucullata\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eV. sororia \u003c\/em\u003efor good contrasting color. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEcological Associations:\u003c\/strong\u003e Provides early pollen and nectar to ground‑nesting bees such as mining bees in the genus \u003cem\u003eAndrena\u003c\/em\u003e and sweat bees in the genus \u003cem\u003eLasioglossum\u003c\/em\u003e, along with flower‑visiting hover flies in the family\u003cem\u003e Syrphidae\u003c\/em\u003e that work its small yellow heads extensively. Bumble bees, including Common Eastern Bumble Bee (\u003cem\u003eBombus impatiens\u003c\/em\u003e), may forage across its blooms when moving through edgelands. Like other Packera species, it contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids leading to a suppression in herbivory, though rabbits have been known to sample Packera.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e MN\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNH Propagation Technique:\u003c\/strong\u003e Seed occasionally, division and vendor stock. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecial Powers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Usually sprawling, crawling and spreading plants can be shunned by gardeners. Use this feature to your advantage by weaving Balsam Ragwort with a matrix of sedges and other groundcovers underneath taller growing forbs, shrubs and trees. The ragwort will pop up early in spring to provide green and gold color and as the plant fades into summer, the other taller forbs and plants will grow up and take command of the garden.  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Northern Holler, LLC","offers":[{"title":"2.5” POWER PLUG","offer_id":48642039611642,"sku":"PACK-PAUP-01","price":3.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"3.5” 1ST YR Perennial","offer_id":48642039644410,"sku":"PACK-PAUP-02","price":5.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"4.5\" Standard Perennial","offer_id":48642039677178,"sku":"PACK-PAUP-03","price":9.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"6\" Standard Perennial","offer_id":48642039709946,"sku":"PACK-PAUP-04","price":10.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0806\/9929\/3946\/files\/20250802_165732289_iOS.jpg?v=1773011516","url":"https:\/\/northernholler.com\/products\/balsam-ragwort","provider":"Northern Holler, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}