Ragwort is a highly invasive plant species which is
native to
the UK, predominantly colonising areas with poor soil quality.
Ragwort is covered in the Weeds Act 1959 where you have
a duty of care to control ragwort. It is a highly toxic plant that
can lead to irreversible liver damage in livestock and humans.
Ragwort is toxic to horses and cattle. In livestock, the
alkaloids act to cause liver damage and death.
The flowering and seed-producing season can be extremely
prolonged, from mid June until November. It is reported that
some plants produce as many as 200,000 seeds per season.
Seeds that do not germinate immediately can remain viable
for up to ten years.
