No, it is toxic and should not be consumed by humans or animals.

Pull it by hand before it sets seed to prevent further spread.

Plant guide

Common groundsel.

Senecio vulgaris

Pronounced sen-EE-see-oh vul-GAIR-iss

Also known as Common Fireweed, Common Groundsel, Groundsel

Common groundsel is a hardy, fast growing annual often found as a weed in gardens. It produces small, yellow, tubular flowers that eventually turn into fluffy white seed heads. You will find it pops up easily in disturbed soil throughout the year.

Another photo of Common groundsel — Photo by Douglas Goldman (CC BY-SA) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual herb
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 12 to 18 inches
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 9
Bloom time: Year round in mild climates

Care

This plant thrives in almost any soil condition and requires very little attention. Keep an eye out for rapid seed dispersal, as it can quickly take over a garden bed. Pull it before it goes to seed if you want to keep it contained.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Fertilizing is generally unnecessary as this plant is highly adaptable and often considered a weed.
Pruning: Remove flower heads before they set seed to prevent unwanted spread.
Repotting: As an annual, it is typically not repotted, but you can move it if needed.
Soil: Well drained soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -10 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%

Safety

People: The plant is toxic to humans and livestock due to the presence of hepatotoxic alkaloids.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested due to pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
Children: Keep children away from this plant as ingestion of any part can lead to serious poisoning.
Contact allergens: Handling the foliage may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The windborne seeds can be an irritant to those with severe respiratory allergies.
Edibility: This plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause severe liver damage if ingested.

How to identify it

Small yellow tubular flowers
Deeply lobed green leaves
Fluffy white seed heads
Upright branching stems

Height: 0.1 to 0.45m
Spread: 0.05 to 0.2m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: white, late spring to autumn

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
RustCommon
Powdery MildewUncommon
Slugs and SnailsUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn

This plant is generally considered a weed and is best kept out of intentional garden guilds.

Grows well with

Common Chickweed · They often share the same disturbed soil habitats.

Similar species

Sticky Groundsel · It has a similar appearance but is covered in sticky, glandular hairs.

Science

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Senecio
Order: Asterales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe and parts of Asia.
Conservation: It is considered a widespread agricultural weed and is not of conservation concern.

It thrives in disturbed soils and open ground, acting as a pioneer species in new garden beds.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ornamental in wild gardens, scientific research

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is groundsel edible?: No, it is toxic and should not be consumed by humans or animals.
How do I control it?: Pull it by hand before it sets seed to prevent further spread.

Where the name comes from

The name Senecio comes from the Latin senex, meaning old man, referring to the white, hair-like pappus on the seeds. Vulgaris is Latin for common.

Good to know

It is one of the most common weeds found in gardens worldwide.
The plant can produce several generations in a single growing season.
Seeds are equipped with a pappus that allows them to travel long distances on the wind.
It is an occasional host for the cinnabar moth caterpillar, whose main food plant is ragwort.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Keep your common groundsel growing

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.