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Senecio hispidulus

hill fireweed

Asteraceae

Eastern and southern Australia; New Zealand

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

Overview

Senecio hispidulus is an erect annual to short-lived perennial herb growing 12-35 inches (30-90 cm) tall, with one or several roughly hairy stems. Leaves are alternate, lance-shaped to oblong, 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) long, coarsely toothed, stalkless and partly clasping the stem, with a rough bristly surface. Small cylindrical flower heads about 0.2 inch (5 mm) long are grouped in loose terminal clusters; they are discoid, with yellow tubular florets and no spreading ray petals. Flowering occurs over much of the year, peaking in spring and summer. Each head ripens into seeds carried on a white pappus that disperses on wind. Growth is rapid, completing the cycle from seedling to seed within one season in many sites. Plants are short-lived and self-seed freely, appearing on disturbed ground. Foliage contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are poisonous to grazing livestock when eaten in quantity.

Native Range

Native to eastern and southern Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia, and also native to New Zealand. Grows in open forest, woodland, grassland, and disturbed ground from the coast to subalpine slopes.

Suggested Uses

Grown occasionally in native and habitat gardens and used in revegetation of disturbed sites. The self-seeding habit suits informal or meadow plantings but spreads into cultivated beds. Seldom grown in formal gardens because of its weedy growth and short life.

How to Identify

Identified by rough bristly stems and leaves and by cylindrical yellow flower heads about 0.2 inch (5 mm) long that lack spreading ray petals. Leaves are coarsely toothed, 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) long, and clasp the stem with small basal lobes. Separated from Senecio vulgaris by its taller stature and rough hairy texture rather than nearly hairless foliage.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 2'11"

Width/Spread8" - 1'4"

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~20 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Flowers across much of the year, with the heaviest flush in spring and summer. Individual heads last about 1-2 weeks before forming seed. In warm climates scattered flowering continues through autumn and winter.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade on most well-drained soils, including poor and disturbed ground. Seedlings establish from self-sown seed and need no special care. Watering is rarely necessary once seedlings emerge, as the plant tolerates dry conditions. Plants complete their life cycle quickly and die after setting seed. Self-sown seedlings can spread into garden beds and pasture. Foliage carries pyrrolizidine alkaloids that cause cumulative liver damage in cattle and horses that graze it.

Pruning

Spent flowering stems can be removed before the seed heads open to reduce self-seeding. Plants are cut at ground level once flowering finishes, as they do not persist. No structural pruning is needed for this herb.