Senecio elegans

Photo: Ethan Rayner, California State Parks

Synonyms: Senecio elegans var. elegans

Common names: redpurple ragwort, purple ragwort, wild cineraria

Redpurple ragwort (Senecio elegans L.) is an annual herbaceous plant native to Cape region of South Africa. Leaves and stems are covered in dense glandular hairs; flower heads are comprised of purple ray- and yellow disk florets; plants can grow to a height of 1m. It has been introduced across Europe as an ornamental. Senecio elegans has naturalized and spread in dune habitat along the coast of California since it was first recorded from San Francisco County in the mid 1920’s, likely as an escaped cultivar. It is also well established in its introduced range along the southeastern and southwestern coast of Australia, where it is listed as an environmental weed, as well as in New Zealand and the Azores.

Cal-IPC Rating: Watch

CDFA Rating: None?

Assessment(s)

Plant Risk Assessment - An evaluation of the potential for a plant to be invasive in California.

Weed Management Notes

No Weed RIC Management Notes are available for this species. Check for information on other species in the genus on the Weed RIC site.

Cal-IPC Newsletter Articles

Cal-IPC Symposium Presentations

Presentations are linked where available. Where a presentation is not available, find more information by reading the abstract in the Cal-IPC Symposia Archive.

Other Senecio elegans Information

  • CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
  • Calflora - Distribution map and records of this species in California.
  • EDDMapS - Distribution of this species in North America.
  • GBIF - Global distribution information.
  • Jepson Interchange - Information on this plant's taxonomy, biology, and distribution from UC Berkeley's Jepson Herbarium.
  • USDA PLANTS Database - Information on identification and distribution, with links to websites in individual states.
  • The Plant List - Global taxonomic resource and collaborative clearinghouse from Kew Gardens, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Missouri Botanic Garden and others.
  • Additional photos

    Senecio elegans_fruit (seed) with pappus_RichardSpellenberg
    Senecio elegans (redpurple ragwort) fruit (seed) with pappus. Photo: Richard Spellenberg
    Senecio elegans_branch with flower heads_ChrisWinchell
    Senecio elegans (redpurple ragwort) branch with flower heads. Photo: Chris Winchell
    Senecio elegans_growth habit_ChrisWinchell
    Senecio elegans (redpurple ragwort) growth habit. Photo: Chris Winchell