Golden ragwort is a spring wildflower of eastern North America, native from the mountains and Piedmont of North Carolina westward to Texas, growing naturally in forests, swamps, and along stream banks. From late winter into spring it sends up stalks of vivid yellow flowers that attract early pollinators before the rest of the garden has fully woken. The blooms can look untidy after they fade, but cutting the stalks down to the leafy base keeps the plant tidy without sacrificing the seeds that birds rely on.

Plant it in full sun to partial shade in average to wet soil — it needs more moisture in sunnier spots than in shade, but will flower in either. Once established it spreads steadily by rhizomes, forming thick mats that work well as ground cover in wet, shady areas. It naturalizes readily and can seed around with some enthusiasm, which is an asset in a rain garden or bog planting and a consideration in a more formal border. Zones 3 to 8 means it is one of the toughest native perennials available for cold-climate gardens.