Small's Ragwort

Packera smallii

Small's Ragwort is a compact, low-growing native that blooms bright yellow in early spring. one of the first wildflowers to open after Golden Groundsel. Despite the common name 'ragwort,' this is a tidy, well-behaved plant with deeply lobed, textured basal leaves that look good through most of the year. The cheerful yellow daisy-like flowers appear before many insects have emerged, making it an important early food source. It's a specialist plant for shaded rocky settings. particularly happy in the well-drained but root-moist pockets found at the base of rock outcrops and slopes. An excellent front-of-border plant for a woodland garden where spring color is hard to come by. The basal foliage is attractive even when not in bloom, with a deep green that reads well against lighter-colored mulch or stone.