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Chelidonium majus

Phonetic Spelling
kel-ih-DOH-nee-um MAY-jus
This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

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:
Tags:
#poisonous#yellow flowers#fast growing#spreading#mountains#self-seeding#poor soils tolerant#flowers early summer#contact dermatitis#poisonous if ingested#weed
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#yellow flowers#fast growing#spreading#mountains#self-seeding#poor soils tolerant#flowers early summer#contact dermatitis#poisonous if ingested#weed
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Weed
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heavy Shade
    Poor Soil
    Problems:
    Contact Dermatitis
    Poisonous to Humans
    Weedy
  • 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