Common Groundsel

Common groundsel is Senecio vulgaris, a small annual plant now distributed across much of the world. It is often found in gardens, cultivated ground, roadsides, and other disturbed places.

Under favorable conditions, common groundsel can complete its life cycle in as few as five to six weeks. It can flower and produce seed repeatedly during a growing season.

Its seeds have fine hairs that act like parachutes, allowing wind dispersal. A single plant can produce many seeds, which helps the weed colonize freshly disturbed soil.

Common groundsel is usually a low plant with lobed leaves and small yellow flower heads. The heads produce white, fluffy seed structures after flowering, making the plant easier to spot when it is fruiting.