Growth Form:Forb/herb; plants upright or spreading; multiple stems.
Leaves: Green or whitish green; both lower and upper leaves; lower leaves purple or blue tinged, upper leaves lightly tinged; surface without hairs; leaf shape ovate or lyre-shaped, deeply lobed, with a large terminal lobe and smaller lateral ones.
Flower Color: Bright yellow showy flowers; flowers with both ray and diskflorets, both yellow; fruit a cypsela.
Flowering Season: March or April to May or June
Elevation: 2,500-7,500 feet (762-2,286 m)
Habitat Preferences: Rocky soils, open areas; Upper desert, chaparral vegetation, scrub-oak and pinyon-pine.
Recorded Range: Oak Creek Ragwort is relatively rare in the United States where it occurs only in Arizona and New Mexico. The largest populations are in Arizona.
Genus Information: In North America there are 58 species for Packera. Worldwide, The Plant List includes 66 accepted species names and a further 159 scientific names of infraspecific rank for Packera.
Packera is a genus that was previously included in genus Senecio.
The genus Packera was published by Áskell Löve and Doris Benta Maria Löve in 1975.
In the Southwestern United States: Arizona and Utah each have 11 species of genus, California has 16 species, Nevada has 8 species, New Mexico has 23 species, Texas has 11 species. All data approximate and subject to revision.
Comments: Oak Creek Ragwort is a tall robust showy upper desert spring bloomer that is primarily an Arizona species named after its type location in Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona. This species is never found in the field in large numbers, but always a delight to find isolated specimens.
In Southwest Desert Flora also see: New Mexico Groundsel, Packera neomexicana.
Importance to Wildlife, Birds and Livestock
Oak Creek Groundsel, Packera quercetorum showy yellow flowers and their seeds and plants may be visited by hummingbirds and/or small mammals including rodents and granivorous birds in search of food, nectar, shelter and protection through cover.
Beneficial Value to Butterflies, Bees and Insects
Oak Creek Groundsel, Packera quercetorum bright yellow daisy-like flowers and their plants may be visited by butterflies, moths and other insects in search of nectar and/or other food.
Etymology:
The genus Packera is named in honor of John George Packer (1929-2019) who specialized on the flora of Alberta and on Arctic and alpine flora.
The genus Packera was published by Áskell Löve and Doris Benta Maria Löve in 1975.
The species epithet "neomexicana" (neomexica'na:) means of or from New Mexico.
Ethnobotany
Packera neomexicana var. neomexicana is used as an antidote, burn dressing or other purposes by the Navajo Nation.
