Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria

Lesser celandine is a weedy, invasive, herbaceous perennial groundcover in the  buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). It was introduced into North America from Europe and the Caucasus and has naturalized in 19 states in the Northeast, the Pacific Northwest and eastern Canada. 

It grows rapidly in moist, shady soils like those in river floodplains. In wild areas, plants form large, dense vigorous colonies that sometimes cover several acres of land. The yellow flowers are easy to spot in the early spring. It emerges earlier than most native plants and may inhibit the development and reproduction of native spring ephemerals that are essential to wildlife. After flowering, the plant foliage dies back by early summer as the plants go dormant. The plant reproduces via bulbils on above-ground stems and by underground tubers. The spread of bulbils and tubers can be accelerated by such factors as animal digging and flooding. Lesser celandine is best targeted when it’s actively growing in February and March. Control often takes multiple seasons. 

Lesser celandine looks similar to marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) which is native in North Carolina and enjoys similar growing conditions. The two can be distinguished by the number of petals on the flower (typically eight for lesser celandine and five for marsh marigold) and the appearance of the leaf margin (smooth for lesser celandine and serrated for marsh marigold).

Quick ID Hints:

• A basal rosette of dark, kidney- or heart-shaped leaves.
• A bright yellow flower blooms on a single stalk that rises 8 to 9 inches above the leaves.
• Small bulbils form in the leaf axils after the flowering season has passed.
• Abundant fig-shaped tubers form along the roots; when separated from the parent plant, the tubers will produce a new plant.
• An overall tight, low-growing mat that rapidly chokes out neighboring seedlings.

Insect, Disease, and Other Problems: Slugs and snails may appear. When planted in a garden, plants tend to spread aggressively into adjacent areas. Consider alternatives listed in the sidebar to the left. This species is classified as invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council.