Velvet groundsel Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Velvet groundsel

Scientific classification
Genus:	Roldana
Species:	petasitis
Synonyms
Senecio petasitis (Sims) DC. Cineraria petasitis Sims

Roldana petasitis, also known as the velvet groundsel or Californian geranium, is a type of plant. It belongs to the Roldana group and the Asteraceae family. This plant used to be called Senecio. It grows naturally in Central America.

About the Velvet Groundsel
- Its Flowers
Different Kinds of Velvet Groundsel
Where it Grows
Gallery
See also

About the Velvet Groundsel

A close-up of a leaf

This plant is an evergreen subshrub. This means it stays green all year and is smaller than a tree but bigger than a small herb. It has stems that are not very strong. It can grow up to 1.8 meters (about 6 feet) tall.

The velvet groundsel likes warm weather all the time. It grows best in gardens that are protected from strong winds or cold. Its leaves are large and have 7 or more wide, rounded parts called lobes.

Its Flowers

The flowers of the velvet groundsel look like daisies. Each flower head has about 6 petals that spread out. These flowers grow in groups called panicles, which are like clusters of flowers. The plant blooms when it is winter or early spring.

Different Kinds of Velvet Groundsel

There are different types, or varieties, of this plant. One variety is called 'Roldana p. var. cristobalensis'. Its leaves have a purple color on the underside. Other varieties include 'Roldana petasitis var. oaxacana' and 'sartorii'.

Where it Grows

The velvet groundsel is native to Central America. This means it naturally grows in these areas.

Neotropic
- Mexico Southwest: You can find it in places like Colima, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Oaxaca.
- Mesoamerica: It also grows in countries such as El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.