Butterweed, Cressleaf Groundsel

Packera glabella (Poir.) C. Jeffrey

(formerly Senecio glabellus)

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

▲ seedling

▲▼ first year fall rosettes

▲ rosette leaves

▲▼ mature plants

▲▼ flowers

▲▼reddish or pinkish stems on mature plants

▲ reduced leaves on flowering stems

hollow stem▲

▲reduced tillage field in Illinois in early May with heavy butterweed infestation

Butterweed, Cressleaf Groundsel: 

·         Winter annual or biennial weed from China with upright, growth habit topped with clusters of bright yellow flowers

·         Grows 1-4 feet tall, with deeply lobed basal leaves that become smaller on flowering stem; leaves often have a reddish color or tint

·         Stems are hollow

·         Found in moist, fertile, reduced tillage fields throughout central midwest; a few weeds can reproduce by seed to fill a field in a few  years (see photos), although impact of weeds on fallow fields is not known