Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)

Also known as: common ragwort, staggerwort

Ragwort is an upright herb with deeply lobed leaves and yellow daisy-like flowers. It is poisonous to people and livestock.

This plant should not be sold in parts of NSW

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How does this weed affect you?

Ragwort spreads quickly and it:

is poisonous to animals including livestock
can cause human health issues including dermatitis
can contaminate milk and honey
invades and dominates pastures, reducing productivity.

Human poisoning

Some people can suffer from dermatitis after direct contact with ragwort plants. Breathing the pollen can cause health issues.

Livestock poisoning

Ragwort contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are poisonous and have caused deaths in horses, cattle, pigs and poultry. Goats and sheep can also be affected if they eat large amounts of ragwort over a long time. All above ground parts of the plant are poisonous. The toxin accumulates, is not treatable, and causes liver failure. The build-up is undetectable until it is at a critical level when symptoms occur.

Dairy cattle that eat sub-lethal amounts of ragwort can produce tainted milk.

What does it look like?

Ragwort is a perennial or biennial herb. It usually grows to 30–80 cm high but can be up to 1.8 m tall.

In the first year plants form a rosette (a cluster of leaves growing close to the ground). In the second year they can start to produce flowering stems. It may take up to five years before some plants start producing stems.

All leaves are:

dark green and hairless on the top side
paler on the underside sometimes covered in cobweb-like hairs
deeply divided into many lobes with irregular edges

The rosette leaves

are larger, up to 35 cm long
have stalk like bases
become upright just before the flowering stems form (this is called the cabbage stage).

The stem leaves are:

smaller, 6–12 cm long and 2–6 cm wide
stalkless, and on the upper stems have ear-like lobes around the stems
alternate.

Flowerheads are:

yellow and daisy-like with 12-15 petals each 6-9 mm long
about 2.5 cm wide
in large clusters mostly at the top of the plant
surrounded by about 13 green bracts with black or brown tips
present in summer and autumn.

Seeds:

are straw coloured or light brown
are up to 2 mm long and 0.5 mm wide
have a ring of fine, white, feathery hairs 4–5 mm long.

Stems:

sometimes have cobweb like hairs
reddish to purplish near the base
branching near the top of the plant.

Roots are:

fleshy or fibrous, the fleshy roots are up to 15 cm deep whilst the fibrous roots extend deeper

Similar looking plants

Ragwort looks similar to other Senecio weeds including:

African daisy (Senecio pterophorus), which has long thin leaves only up to 1.5 cm wide.
Common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), which is shorter (10-50 cm tall) and its flowers do not have obvious petals.
Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis), which has long thin leaves only up to 1 cm wide.

Where is it found?

In NSW, ragwort grows in isolated patches in the Greater Sydney, Hunter, Central Tablelands and South East regions.

It is native to Asia and Europe.

What type of environment does it grow in?

Ragwort grows in temperate climates with more than 750 mm of rain per year. It mostly grows on moderately fertile heavy soils. It has been found growing in:

pastures
disturbed sites including trails and roadsides
forests and woodlands
grasslands and heathlands
riparian areas and wetlands
coastal vegetation and sand dunes.

Maps and records

Recorded presence of Ragwort during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2026)
These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.

How does it spread?

By seed

One plant can produce 250,000 seeds per year. Seeds can remain dormant for up to 20 years. Seedlings often germinate in the bare ground created around the parent plant.

Seeds are spread:

by the wind (most seeds are blown within 20 m of the parent plant though seeds may be dispersed up 1 km or more by strong winds)
in water
by attaching to animals, vehicles and clothing
in contaminated hay.

By plant parts

New plants can grow from pieces of the crown and roots. These can be spread by cultivation machinery and earth moving equipment.

More information

Control

Wear protective clothing when controlling ragwort. Take precautions if the plants are flowering and you are allergic to the pollen.

Plants are still poisonous after they have treated. Keep livestock away from treated plants or dispose of them.

If plants are damaged but not controlled properly, they can reform from the crown. Several rosettes can form from one crown.

Prevention

Avoid taking vehicles or machinery through areas infested with ragwort. If this cannot be avoided, clean down vehicles and machinery before moving to an uninfested area.

Source hay and crop seeds from weed free locations. Request a vendor declaration form.

Physical removal

By hand

Plants can be dug out. Remove as much of the crown as possible. Dispose of the plants appropriately especially if flowering or fruiting.

Cultivation

Repeated cultivation destroys established ragwort plants and reduces the seed bank if seedlings are cultivated. Ploughing will need to be at least 15 cm deep to remove the crowns. Follow up cultivation by cropping or planting perennial pastures.

Disposal

Dispose of ragwort plants to prevent livestock eating them and to reduce the spread of seeds.

Plants can be disposed of by burying them at least 1 m deep. Contact your local council for advice on other methods of disposing ragwort.

Pasture management

Maintain dense vigorous pasture to reduce the growth of ragwort seedlings.

Biological control

Biological control agents will not eradicate ragwort. However, they help provide effective control when used in conjunction with other control methods. The following biological control agents have been released:

Ragwort stem and crown boring moth (Cochylis atricapitana), which is wide spread and does not need further distribution.
Ragwort plume moth (Platyptilia isodactyla), which is also wide spread and does not need further distribution.

Chemical control

Spot spraying

Spray actively growing plants. Cover all of the foliage with herbicide. Spraying is often recommended before the plants start producing flowering stems. Always check the labels and permits for details.

Boom spraying

Most boom spray applications for ragwort are at the rosette or cabbage stage, prior to flowering. Check the label and permits for specific details.

Herbicide options

WARNING - ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au

See Using herbicides for more information.

PERMIT 14249 Expires 31/03/2030
Picloram 100 g/L + Triclopyr 300 g/L + Aminopyralid 8 g/L (Grazon® Extra)
Rate: 250-500 mL per 100 L
Comments: Spray plants from October to May. See permit for critical comments.
Withholding period: Where product is used to control woody weeds in pastures there is a restriction of 12 weeks for use of treated pastures for making hay and silage; using hay or other plant material for compost, mulch or mushroom substrate; or using animal waste from animals grazing on treated pastures for compost, mulching, or spreading on pasture/crops.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

2,4-D 300 g/L + Picloram 75 g/L (Tordon® 75-D)
Rate: 300 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Spray application from the rosette to the cabbage stage.
Withholding period: Do not graze or cut crops (except sugar cane 8 weeks) or pastures for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

2,4-D 300 g/L + Picloram 75 g/L (Tordon® 75-D)
Rate: 3.5 L/ha
Comments: Boom application, rosettes to cabbage stage.
Withholding period: Do not graze or cut crops (except sugar cane 8 weeks) or pastures for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

Dicamba 750 g/L (Kamba® 750)
Rate: 185 mL per 100 L of water. Add a surfactant.
Comments: Spray prior to flowering. For non crop situations.
Withholding period: Do not harvest, graze or cut for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

Dicamba 750 g/L (Kamba® 750)
Rate: 2.7 L/ha Use a minimum of 1500 L/ha water carrier. Add a surfactant.
Comments: Boom spray for non-crop situations. Spray prior to flowering.
Withholding period: Do not harvest, graze or cut for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

MCPA 340 g/L + Dicamba 80 g/L (Kamba® M)
Rate: 190–270 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Spot spray.
Withholding period: Do not graze or cut for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

MCPA 340 g/L + Dicamba 80 g/L (Kamba® M)
Rate: 2.8–4.0 L/ha
Comments: Boom spray. Apply at the young growth stage.
Withholding period: Do not graze or cut for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

Metsulfuron-methyl 300 g/kg + Aminopyralid 375 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 10 g per 100 L of water (always add a Wetter 100 mL/100L)
Comments: Apply to actively growing plants at rosette to cabbage stage. Adjuvant: Wetter 1000g/L non-ionic alcohol alkoxylate (TITAN WETTER 1000 or BS1000 or equivalent).
Withholding period: Pastures - Grazing for meat production or cutting for animal feed: Do not graze for 56 days after application. See label for further details
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors) + 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: High/Moderate

Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 5 g per 100 L of water plus a non-ionic surfactant at a rate of 100mL/ 100L
Comments: Spot spray application.
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High

Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 15 g/ha
Comments: Boom application, actively growing rosettes to cabbage stage.
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High

Triclopyr 300 g/L + Picloram 100 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 350 or 500 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Spot spray actively growing plants.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area	Duty
All of NSW	General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Riverina	Regional Recommended Measure * (for Regional Priority - Prevention) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found. Your local biosecurity weeds officer can help to identify, advise on control, and how to remove this weed.
	*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here

For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.

Reviewed 2026