Groundsel

Senecio vulgaris

Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) is an annual weed, found throughout New Zealand. It is a common weed in arable and horticultural crops, gardens and waste areas. The erect weed grows to 50 cm tall with soft, leafy stems and distinctive yellow flowers.

Groundsel (Sencio vulgaris) is a commonly found annual weed throughout New Zealand. Has an upright, erect growth habit and prefers nutrient rich soils.

Cotyledons:

Oblong shaped with rounded apex
Base tapered

Stalkless

Leaves:
Egg–shaped
Fleshy, toothed

Mature plants grow up to 50 cm tall with soft, fleshy stems and are irregularly branched.

Leaves are dark green and lobbed. Multiple yellow cylindrical flowers are produced on the end of stems.

Related Pests

Fathen

Chenopodium album

Fathen (Chenopodium album), pronounced fat-hen and sometimes called fat hen, is one of the most serious weeds of cropping throughout New Zealand. It is an annual that germinates in the spring and early summer and then dies off in the autumn with frosts. Fathen is an extremely vigorous weed that can quickly outcompete and smother crops. An upright plant that can grow to 2 m tall and is a prolific seeder.

Willow Weed

Persicaria maculosa

Willow weed (Persicaria maculosa) is an erect and sprawling summer growing annual that can be a serious weed in crops (e.g. maize). It has reddish stems and pink spike like flowers. It is common in the spring and summer throughout New Zealand but is quickly killed by frosts. A similar species, water pepper, grows taller and is common in wet places.

Fumitory

Fumaria muralis

Fumitory (Fumaria muralis) is a weak-stemmed scrambling and climbing annual weed with purple/pink tubular flowers. It is common throughout New Zealand and is a significant weed of crops (especially cereals) as it can smother crops if not controlled.