![]() ![]() Although lesser celandine plants seldom rise more than 4 – 5" above the soil, they have dense root systems, and plants grow together to form mat-like impenetrable canopies. It's a beautiful sight unless you consider that the magic carpet rolls over native spring wildflowers, particularly spring ephemerals. The overall effect of a massive colony of lesser celandine is a magical-looking dark green carpet speckled with flecks of bright yellow. Profuse glossy, butter-yellow flowers that are about 1" in diameter rise singly on stalks slightly above the foliage. New leaves are noticeably mottled with light and dark green patches. ![]() The shiny dark green heart-shaped leaves are borne on fleshy, white, tightly clustered leaf stalks. It’s also not unusual to see plants creeping into turfgrass. Lesser celandine continues to be found in those locations however, lush aggregations are now commonly found blanketing well-drained hillsides and hilltops in Ohio. It is believed to have been first introduced to North America as an ornamental in the mid-1800s and escapes were reported in Pennsylvania in 1867.ĭense colonies were originally associated with moist soils near streams or around spring seeps. Lesser celandine is native to Europe, northern Africa, western Asia, and Siberia. ![]() This non-native highly-invasive weed belongs to the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, and is sometimes called "fig buttercup." The "fig" refers to the shape of the underground tubers and the "buttercup" describes the flowers. The weed’s hide-and-seek life cycle makes detecting and evaluating the extent of spread a time-sensitive endeavor.īright yellow buttercup flowers are now revealing infestations in southern Ohio. Lesser Celandine ( Ficaria verna (previously Ranunculus ficaria)) is a "spring ephemeral" meaning it spends most of the year hidden from view as underground tubers. ![]()
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