Tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) is an invasive weed with a long and deadly history in the Pacific Northwest. In Oregon, it is designated as a Class B invasive weed. It is believed to have been introduced here in the early 1900’s through ballast water from a ship. This plant in native to Europe and […]
Tansy Ragwort, Stinking willie, Staggerwort, Tansy butterweed
Senecio jacobaea (syn. Jacobaea vulgaris)
Tansy ragwort is a tall biennial plant in the sunflower family. It can grow up to 6 feet in height at maturity. The rigid stems of Tansy ragwort are green with an occasional reddish tinge. Plants typically arise from a single stem that becomes branched at the top of the plant, forming flat clusters of bright yellow flowers. The yellow daisy-like flowers have dark yellow to orange centers. Leaves are dark green and ruffled in appearance. Tansy ragwort grows as a rosette in its first year before transitioning into the mature flowering form in its second year of growth. Tansy ragwort can form dense patches, particularly on disturbed sites. This noxious weed is dangerous to humans and livestock due to a poisonous alkaloid (hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine) in its tissue which causes liver damage when ingested.
3-6 feet
Yellow
July to September
From a distance, tansy ragwort can look like common St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), but upon looking more closely, tansy ragwort has large ruffled leaves, whereas St. John’s wort has many small leaves. Also, tansy ragwort has flowerheads with 13 petals, while St. John’s wort has 5.
Tansy ragwort is opportunistic plant often found in disturbed areas. Tansy likes a cool and wet climate, well drained soils and full to partial sun. Patches are found in pastures, fields, grasslands, vacant land, waste places, horse trails, roadsides, rangeland, riparian areas, forested areas, and clear cuts. Areas of greatest concern are improperly managed pastures and disturbed areas.
Prolific in pastures, clear cuts, and disturbed roadside areas, tansy populations can become quite dense. The leaves are toxic to cattle and horses, causing irreversible liver damage. In the 1960’s and 70’s livestock losses in Oregon amounted to 5 million dollars a year. Unlike cattle and horses, sheep appear to be unaffected by ragwort’s toxicity. Once considered Western Oregon’s most economically serious noxious weed, biological controls have reduced the severity of outbreaks below economic threshold levels.
Eurasia
Oregon Noxious Weed Profile
Washington Noxious Weed Profile
Invasive.org profile
CABI Invasive Species Compendium
The WeedWise Program has finalized Best Management Practices for controlling Tansy Ragwort. Check out this comprehensive guide today.
Tansy Ragwort, Stinking willie, Staggerwort, Tansy butterweed
Senecio jacobaea (syn. Jacobaea vulgaris)
Tansy ragwort is a tall biennial plant in the sunflower family. It can grow up to 6 feet in height at maturity. The rigid stems of Tansy ragwort are green with an occasional reddish tinge. Plants typically arise from a single stem that becomes branched at the top of the plant, forming flat clusters of bright yellow flowers. The yellow daisy-like flowers have dark yellow to orange centers. Leaves are dark green and ruffled in appearance. Tansy ragwort grows as a rosette in its first year before transitioning into the mature flowering form in its second year of growth. Tansy ragwort can form dense patches, particularly on disturbed sites. This noxious weed is dangerous to humans and livestock due to a poisonous alkaloid (hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine) in its tissue which causes liver damage when ingested.
Tansy ragwort leaves are evenly spaced and alternate along the stem. Leaves decrease in size toward the top of the plant. Leaves can be smooth, or lightly hairy on their underside of lower leaves. Leaves are dark green and generally lighter on the underside. The leaves of Tansy ragwort are pinnate and appear to be ruffled in appearance.
Tansy ragwort has bright yellow, showy flowers forming a flat topped cluster at the end of the stem. There can be anywhere from 20-60 flowers in a cluster. The daisy-like flowers have numerous disc flowers surrounded by 10-15 (13) evenly spaced ray flowers. Peak flowering occurs from July to September.
Tansy ragwort produce very small, cylindrical seed like fruits called achenes. The achenes from the ray flowers are smooth while the achenes from the disc flowers are hairy. The achenes have a dandelion-like set of bristly hairs called a pappus which aids in dispersal of the seed by wind. Adult plants can produce up to 200,000 seeds. Seeds can remain viable in the soil for more than 10 years.
The root system of tansy ragwort consists of a distinct tap root or crown with lateral and secondary roots spreading away from the plant. Roots can reach 1 foot deep into the soil. New root shoots are easily formed if a plant is mowed, cut, or injured.
Tansy ragwort reproduces both vegetatively and by seed. Vegetative reproduction occurs when roots or crown is injured and new shoots develop. The fragments from the injured roots can also generate shoots. Seeds are dispersed by wind or by wildlife. Seeds can also be transported by machinery, contaminated soil and hay, and boots and clothing.
Tansy ragwort is opportunistic plant often found in disturbed areas. Tansy likes a cool and wet climate, well drained soils and full to partial sun. Patches are found in pastures, fields, grasslands, vacant land, waste places, horse trails, roadsides, rangeland, riparian areas, forested areas, and clear cuts. Areas of greatest concern are improperly managed pastures and disturbed areas.
Native to Eurasia, Native was first reported in the United States in California in 1912. In Oregon, Tansy ragwort was believed to have been introduced through contaminated ballast in the early 1900s (Christy et al., 2009). The first documented herbaria record for Tansy is from Multnomah county 1922. Since becoming established it has spread across western Oregon.
Tansy ragwort can be found throughout Clackamas County. It is very widespread and directly impacts properties throughout the county. As an ubiquitous weed this is not a species that is actively surveyed and the mapped distributions do not represent the full extent of the tansy ragwort population in Clackamas County.
The management of invasive weeds is best served through a process know as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is a weed management methodology that utilizes:
An IPM based strategy ensures the maximum effectiveness of treatment measures. IPM strategies typically use more than one management method to target one or more susceptible life stages. It is adaptive to site conditions in the field and to the response of a plant to management. The utilization of multiple management tools also inherently reduces the use of herbicides in a management plan. The IPM process ultimately provides a framework for the establishment of Best Management Practices (BMP) which outlines the best approach for controlling a weed particular infestation.
Tansy ragwort can be effectively controlled by biological, chemical and manual methods. It is an important plant to control, especially in hay and pasture lands, where it can harm grazing animals. As with any control method it is important to avoid disturbing the soil as much as possible. Soil disturbance can bring buried seeds to the surface, and lead to increased soil erosion. Due to the toxicity of Tansy ragwort, be sure to wear gloves and protective clothing when removing tansy.
Tansy ragwort can be controlled by digging or pulling. Plants should be pulled between May and June, after they bolt and before they flower. Pulling and digging are easier when soil is moist. Rosettes should be dug up, removing as much as the root as possible. Grubbing tools, hoes, and shovels can be used.
Mowing is not a suggested means of control for tansy ragwort. While mowing may prevent the plant from immediately producing seeds, it also stimulates additional vegetative growth. This leads to more plants and more stems per plant in the same season. Mowing is especially problematic in pastures, where it can spread the toxic leaves making it harder for grazing animals to avoid.
Grazing of Tansy ragwort is generally discouraged. For most grazing animals, the plant is highly toxic. Sheep are known to tolerate the alkaloids, but Tansy ragwort is not considered desirable forage. The impacts of grazing on Tansy ragwort is similar to mowing, and may help to suppress the plant, but is not an effective control method.
Herbicide application is an effective means to control tansy ragwort infestations. Tansy ragwort is susceptible to several systemic herbicides. Be cautious when using herbicides on pasture land with grazing animals.
Product Names: Several names
Rate:
1 to 2 lb acid equivalent per acre
Time: Apply in late fall though spring (November through April) after seedlings have emerged and before rosettes have bolted.
Comments: Re-treatment may be required to achieve effective control. 2,4-D is a broad leaf selective herbicide and not will harm grasses. Use care when working around desirable plants to avoid damage. Leaves should be sprayed until wet but not dripping to achieve good control.
Product Names: Banvel, Clarity
Rate:
1 lb acid equivalent per acre
Time: Apply in late fall though spring (November through April) after seedlings have emerged and before rosettes have bolted.
Comments: Re-treatment may be required to achieve effective control. Dicamba is a broad leaf selective herbicide and not will harm grasses. Use care when working around desirable plants to avoid damage. Leaves should be sprayed until wet but not dripping to achieve good control.
Product Names: Weedmaster, Pasturemaster
Rate:
2 qt per acre
Time: Apply in late fall though spring (November through April) after seedlings have emerged and before rosettes have bolted.
Comments: Re-treatment may be required to achieve effective control. 2,4-D& dicamba are broad leaf selective herbicides and not will harm grasses. Use care when working around desirable plants to avoid damage. Leaves should be sprayed until wet but not dripping to achieve good control.
Product Names: Crossbow
Rate:
1.5 to 2 quarts per acre
Time: Apply in late fall though spring (November through April) after seedlings have emerged and before rosettes have bolted.
Comments: Re-treatment may be required to achieve effective control. Triclopyr & 2,4-D are broad leaf selective herbicides and not will harm grasses. Use care when working around desirable plants to avoid damage. Leaves should be sprayed until wet but not dripping to achieve good control.
Product Names: Escort
Rate: 0.75 to 1 oz per acre (0.45 to 0.6 oz acid equivalent per acre)
Time: Apply in late fall though spring (November through April) after seedlings have emerged and before rosettes have bolted.
Comments: Metsulfuron is primarily active against broad leaf plants and generally will not harm grasses. Use a surfactant to increase effectiveness.
Product Names: Milestone
Rate: 4 to 5 fl oz per acre (1 to 1.25 oz acid equivalent per acre)
Time: Apply in late fall though spring (November through April) after seedlings have emerged and before rosettes have bolted.
Comments: Aminopyralid is broad leaf selective herbicide. Use a surfactant to increase effectiveness. Do not compost manure or vegetation from treated sites.
Tansy ragwort is a great example of biological control success. Three different insects are currently used to target Tansy ragwort and have shown to greatly reduce populations in Oregon. While effective, biological control methods will never result is complete eradication of a weed. Control of Tansy ragwort using biological controls, can also take several years. As such, the use of biological controls should be combined with manual or chemical control methods when working in hay or pasture lands to prevent livestock poisoning. Populations of all biological controls will vary from year to year, so occasional resurgence of Tansy ragwort should be expected, particularly in years with very wet springs.
Ragwort flea beetle (Longitarsus jacobaeae): The adult form of this insect feeds on the leaves of the tansy ragwort plants. The larvae feed on the roots and the crown of the plants. Adults are small and light brown. Ragwort flea beetle is the most effective of the biological controls. Originally introduced in 1971, this species is widespread throughout Clackamas County and redistribution is not necessary. In years with very wet springs, the impacts of the flea beetle decreases, and alternative control methods may be desired to suppress Tansy ragwort populations.
Ragwort seed fly (Botanophila seneciella syn. Pegohylemia seneciella): The larvae of this insect feeds on the seed heads of the tansy ragwort. The white larvae can be found within the seeds from late spring through summer. Adults are small black flies. Originally released in 1966, this is the rarest and least effective of the biological controls.
Cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae): The larvae of this insect feeds on the leaves, buds and flowers of the tansy ragwort. The caterpillars are brightly colored with yellow and black stripes. The adult moth is mostly black with bright red markings on its wings. Originally introduced in 1960, this species is widespread, and redistribution is generally not needed. Populations levels fluctuate from year to year and generally lag behind Tansy ragwort abundance.
Pulled or dug up plants should be removed from pastures and hay fields. Plants should be bagged and disposed of as garbage. For large infestations, plant may be removed from the field, and piled and covered, in an area inaccessible to livestock. Care need to be taken to prevent dispersal of seed, as seeds can develop even after pulling.
Tansy ragwort control is manageable. Follow up treatments are necessary and continued monitoring of sites is needed. Seeds may persist in the soil for years following treatment. If animals have been in a field where tansy is present, isolate animals for a few days to prevent the spread of seeds.
Tansy Ragwort Management Timeline
