Chelidonium majus
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- kel-ih-DOH-nee-um MAY-jus
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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This pretty yellow flower likes to get its feet into moist soil but not overly wet soil. It tolerates many soil types, though prefers rich loams. Flowers appear in May and June, bringing a burst of yellow color in the first months of summer. Find it in the landscape in flower gardens as a cultivated herbaceous perennial or naturally as a weed in disturbed areas, it naturalizes in the mountains. It grows best in shady sites though can tolerate full sun in cooler climates.
While Chelidonium majus is part of the poppy family, and its 4 parted showy yellow flowers can be mistaken for buttercups or Ranunculus. This biennial herb has orange-yellow cell sap and a brittle stem.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chelidonium
- Species:
- majus
- Family:
- Papaveraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Historically used as a wart remover.
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eurasia
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit a slender capsule about 2 inches long.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The 1/2 to 3/4 inch flowers are yellow and 4-parted, blooming in May through June.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Pinnatifid
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Dentate
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 5-10 inch Leaves are pinnately divided and have veins that are easily seen since the veins are a lighter color. The leaflets are lobed.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
- Stem Description:
- Brittle with yellow-orange sap. The surface is waxy with sparse hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heavy Shade
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Highly toxic, may be fatal if eaten. Nausea, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, numbness, fainting, and coma. The sap is extremely irritating to the skin and eyes.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Isoquinoline alkaloids
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
