A dream plant for tough spots in the shade

Here’s a jewel for your most challenging dry shade areas: a fast-spreading Missouri native, Golden Groundsel, Packera aurea. It grabs all eyes twice in spring, first with its thousands of brilliant yellow blossoms that last a long time and following with its iridescent white seed heads. A very strong bloomer. But its real value is its indestructible evergreen foliage that will grow just about anywhere. Other big pluses: it won’t climb trees, is easy to remove if it gets unruly, and about as close to carefree as it gets–no watering needed once established!; deer and rabbits won’t touch it. Plants bloom over a long period in spring and then are taken over by their fluffy white seed heads. This incredible display earned it another common name, Old Man’s Beard. Synonymous with and still frequently known as Senecio aureus.

Use Golden Groundsel in the shade to part shade areas. Its evergreen foliage makes it an excellent ground cover. Being easy, it’s ideal for slopes, other hard-to-reach places, or any place you don’t want to drag the hose and mower. Use it in rain gardens, naturalized areas, pollinator and native gardens. It is a great early pollinator food source, and Gem moth caterpillars browse its foliage.

An easy-to-grow perennial in shade to part shade. Keep well watered until established, when plants are setting up buds and blooming, and during dry spells.