Golden Ragwort

Where to Plant

• Sunlight: This versatile groundcover thrives in dappled shade to full shade, but it can handle full sun in cooler climates if the soil stays moist. In sunnier spots, you will see more prolific yellow blooms, while shaded areas produce a denser, more lush carpet of evergreen foliage.
• Soil: Golden Ragwort loves rich, moist, and even boggy soils that mimic its native woodland habitat. If you have heavy clay that stays wet, this plant will be very happy, but if you have sandy soil, you must incorporate compost or peat moss to help hold onto every drop of moisture.

Watering Requirements

During the first growing season, water your Golden Ragwort twice a week to ensure the roots establish deeply in their new home. Once mature, this plant is remarkably tough and can handle seasonal flooding, though it will wilt slightly if the soil dries out completely during a summer heatwave. Regular moisture is the secret to keeping the heart shaped leaves looking vibrant and preventing the plant from going dormant prematurely.

Pruning Tips

Since this plant sends up bloom stalks in early spring, any cleanup should happen after the flowers fade. Use garden shears to "deadhead" or cut the spent flower stems down to the basal foliage to keep the patch looking tidy and prevent excessive self seeding. Think of this like a post bloom haircut that redirects the plant's energy away from making seeds and back into thickening its leafy groundcover.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow release organic fertilizer in early spring just as the new purple tinted leaves begin to emerge. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer because this can force tender new growth that won't be tough enough to survive the first hard frost. A simple layer of leaf mulch or compost spread around the base of the plants each fall is often all the extra "food" this native species needs to thrive.