Packera plattensis (Prairie Groundsel/Prairie Ragwort) on 5-5-25, #1041-25.

Prairie Groundsel, Prairie Ragwort, Platte Groundsel, Squaw Weed

Packera plattensis

PAK-er-uh  plat-EN-sis

Packera plattensis (Nutt.) W.A.Weber & Á.Löve is the accepted scientific name for this species. It was named as such by William Alfred Webber and Áskell Löve in Phytologia in 1981. It was first named and described as Senecio plattensis by Thomas Nuttall in Transactions of the American Philosophical Society in 1841.

The genus, Packera Á.Löve & D.Löve, was named as such by Áskell Löve and Doris Benta Maria Löve in Botaniska Notiser in 1976.

As of 12-12-25 when this page was added, Plants of the World Online lists 76 species in the Packera genus. It is a member of the plant family Asteraceae with 1,712 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.

Distribution map of Packera plattensis from Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/. Retrieved on May 17, 2025.

The above distribution map for Packera plattensis is from Plants of the World Online. The map on the USDA Plants Database is somewhat different and shows a broader range. Areas in green are where the species is native. The USDA map could be somewhat out of date, while POWO gets their data from Flora of North America (FNA) which is supposedly more up to date… Hmmm… 

The map on iNaturalist shows where members have made observations. Anyone can join and it is a great website to confirm and share your observations. The maps on iNaturalist are continually updated as members post new observations. I post all my observations on iNaturalist.

THERE ARE SEVERAL LINKS BELOW FOR FURTHER READING AND TO HELP WITH A POSITIVE ID.

Packera plattensis (Prairie Groundsel/Prairie Ragwort) on 5-5-25, #1041-26.

I was invited to visit a private well-maintained native prairie not far from home on 5-5-25. It was quite amazing! I ran across 11 species I hadn’t seen before including this Packera plattensis. Common names include Prairie Groundsel, Prairie Ragwort, Platte Groundsel, Squaw Weed, and possibly others.

I will come back later and write descriptions. There isn’t much online about this species, but I’ll try to find something entertaining at some point.

The links at the bottom of the page provide a wealth of information written by people more knowledgeable than me.

Packera plattensis (Prairie Groundsel/Prairie Ragwort) on 5-5-25, #1041-27.

Hopefully, I can get back to the prairie soon and take more photos. This species flowers from April-June, so I have a little time left.

I live on the family farm in Windsor, Missouri in Pettis County (Henry County is across the street, and Benton and Johnson aren’t far away). I have grown over 500 different plants and identified over 250 species of wildflowers (most have pages listed on the right side of the page). I am not an expert, botanist, or horticulturalist. I just like growing, photographing, and writing about my experience. I rely on several websites for ID and a few horticulturalists I contact if I cannot figure them out. Wildflowers can be variable from location to location, so that can be a bit confusing. If you see I have made an error, please let me know so I can correct what I have written.

I hope you found this page useful and be sure to check the links below for more information. They were written by experts and they have provided much more information. Some sites may not be up-to-date but they are always a work in progress. If you can, I would appreciate it if you would click on the “Like” below and leave a comment. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. You can also send an email to me at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com. I would enjoy hearing from you especially if you notice something is a bit whacky.

 
FOR FURTHER READING:
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
INTERNATIONAL PLANT NAMES INDEX (GENUS/SPECIES)
TROPICOS (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF MISSOURI (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF NORTH AMERICA (GENUS/SPECIES)
WORLD FLORA ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
USDA PLANTS DATABASE
iNATURALIST
MISSOURI PLANTS
MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
WILDFLOWER SEARCH
ARKANSAS NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
DAVE’S GARDEN
FLORA FINDER
FRIENDS OF THE WILDFLOWER GARDEN
ILLINOIS WILDFLOWERS
KANSAS WILDFLOWERS AND GRASSES
LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER
MINNESOTA WILDFLOWERS
MONTANA FIELD GUIDE
SEINet
THE PRAIRIE ECOLOGIST

NOTE: The data (figures, maps, accepted names, etc.) may not match on these websites. It depends on when and how they make updates and when their sources make updates. Some websites have hundreds and even many thousands of species to keep up with. Accepted scientific names change periodically and it can be hard to keep with as well. Some of the links may use a name that is a synonym on other sites. In my opinion, Plants of the World Online by Kew is one of the most reliable and up-to-date plant databases and they make updates regularly. I make updates “at least” once a year and when I write new pages or add new photos but I do get behind. We are all a work in progress. 🙂