Roldana petasitis is a member of the Asteraceae (daisy) family. The Asteraceae is a huge family, covering 1535 genera and about 23,000 species. Senecio is the largest genus of this family, with 1250 species. Until recently, Roldana petasitis was known as Senecio petasites. Today a new genus has been segregated from senecio and named Roldana.

Velvet Groundsel is native to southern Mexico and Central American countries; El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua. Today it is naturalised in some parts of Australia, New Zealand and on Lord Howe Island.

The plant was also been known as Cineraria petasitis. The name Roldana was given by Dr. Pablo de La Llave; a Mexican priest and naturalist, to honor Eugenio Montaña y Roldan Otumbensi, who was thought to be a Mexican hero in a battle near Mexico City.

Roldana petasitis is a large sprawling evergreen shrub that can grow to 250 to 300 cm tall and width.  The velvety bright green leaves are large roundish, up to 20 cm diameter. In winter to early spring appear the branched inflorescences of deep burgundy coloured flower buds that open to display hundreds of bright yellow daisy flowers. The heads are produced in large branching inflorescences.  At first, five ray florets open and expand.  Then the outer disk florets begin to shed pollen. The stigma is pushing the pollen out through the anther tube, where it’s presented between the projecting awns of the anthers.  Later, when the pollen has gone, the two arms of the stigmas open, ready to receive pollen. The rays are female they have no anthers whereas the disk florets are hermaphrodite.

Velvet Groundsel tolerates a wide range of soils, although drought resistant, plants look nicer with some irrigation. It prefers full sun but does not mind at semi shade places. If planted in shade, leaves get larger but it gets less flowers. Plant is hardy to -8°C but can freeze to the ground and resprout after even colder temperatures. It treated as a large shrubby perennial, and looks much nicer if it is cut back hard after flowering.

Use in Landscape: Roldana petasitis with its bold large foliage it lends a tropical look in the garden without the accompanying high water requirements. It can be used with other shrubby plants or next to high walls. It should be protected from the wind at coastal gardens, as leaves are torn by wind and they will droop in high temperatures.  The plant sometimes is referred to as the California Geranium.