Wakefield Museums and Castles

In their second year, the plants produce leafy, upright stems. These can grow up to 4 ft tall, but they are often much shorter. The stems are branched in the upper half.

The leaves are pinnately lobed. The end lobe is blunt. The leaves have an unpleasant smell.

Common ragwort flowers from June to November. During this period, one plant may produce 2,000 to 2,500 bright yellow flowers. The flowers grow in 20 to 60-headed, flat-topped corymbs. The daisy-like flower heads are 0.6 to 1.0 inches in diameter.

Each plant can produce between 75,000 and 120,000 seeds. These begin ripening in August. Those in the centre of the flower head have a thatch of hair attached, like a dandelion 'clock'. This means that they can travel long distances in the wind.

Those around the edge are heavier, with no hairs, and drop to the ground ready to replace the parent plant. 

Common ragwort is very toxic. It has no culinary uses due to this. 

Consuming any part of the plant can cause irreversible liver damage.

The leaves can be used to obtain a good green dye, although it fades.

The flowers can be used to produce a dye that is yellow when the fabric is mordanted with alum.

In the Isle of Man, ragwort is also known as 'cushag'. It is the unofficial national flower. Lord Raglan suggested it would be a fitting national flower due to lots growing there.

In some traditions, the plant is associated with the fairy folk. They used the seed 'clocks' for 'flight magic'.

Ragwort is toxic to cattle and horses if eaten. They tend to avoid it when it is growing in the fields. Hence, it must not be included in silage.

In the island state of Tasmania, ragwort is responsible for more than half of the total costs of the state's control of invasive species. Ragwort has been calculated as the eighth most expensive invasive species in terms of cost to Australian farmers. It has cost over $500m AUD over 60 years.

In a UK plant survey, ragwort was rated in the top 10 plants for most nectar production.

It provides a home and food source for at least 77 insect species. 30 of these species use it exclusively as their food source. There are another 22 species where ragwort forms a significant part of their diet. These consist mainly of solitary bees, hoverflies, moths and butterflies such as the small copper butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas).

Ragwort is also a food plant for the larvae of the Black-fronted Straw Moth (Cochylis atricapitana), Coast Knot-horn Moth (Phycitodes maritima), Lesser Clouded Knot-horn Moth (Phycitodes saxicolais), Sheep’s-bit Knot Horn Moth (Homoeosoma nimbella) and the Sussex Eemerald moth (Thalera fimbrialis).

It is best known as the food of caterpillars of the rare Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae). These absorb the alkaloids from the plant and become distasteful to predators.

Historically, it was used externally as an ointment for pain relief. It was also used as a poultice for throat inflammation. A wash was also used on burns, sores, wounds and ulcers (especially in the “privities”). It was used against the 'King’s Evil'.

Infusions were used as a gargle for throat issues. Decoctions were used for internal bruises and wounds.

Its use is now cautioned due to its toxicity. There is a significant risk of liver damage from internal consumption.

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.