Ranunculus ficaria

Lesser celandine is a weedy, tuberous rooted, herbaceous perennial that features bright, buttercup-like, yellow flowers that bloom in spring (March to May) and spreading rosettes of glossy, ovate-cordate, fleshy, dark green leaves (to 2î). This is a spring ephemeral. Plants form foliage mounds to 3-4î tall, with flower stems rising to 8-9î tall. When in bloom, colonies of plants are easily spotted, dense and vigorous. Mats of foliage exclude most other vegetation. After flowering, the plant foliage dies back by early summer as the plants go dormant. Lesser celandine is native to Europe and ... more »

Lesser celandine is a weedy, tuberous rooted, herbaceous perennial that features bright, buttercup-like, yellow flowers that bloom in spring (March to May) and spreading rosettes of glossy, ovate-cordate, fleshy, dark green leaves (to 2î). This is a spring ephemeral. Plants form foliage mounds to 3-4î tall, with flower stems rising to 8-9î tall. When in bloom, colonies of plants are easily spotted, dense and vigorous. Mats of foliage exclude most other vegetation. After flowering, the plant foliage dies back by early summer as the plants go dormant. Lesser celandine is native to Europe and eastern Asia. It was introduced into North America many years ago (presumably for ornamental purposes), but has now naturalized in 19 states in the Northeast, the Pacific Northwest and eastern Canada. In wild areas, plants may spread over time to form large colonies sometimes covering several acres of land, and in the process compete with and displace less vigorous native spring ephemerals. Bulblets on above ground stems and underground tubers are the primary methods of propagation. And the spread of those bulblets and tubers can be accelerated by such factors as animal digging and downstream flooding. (less)