Lesser celandine

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Lesser celandine *
Ranunculus ficaria var. ficaria (Ficaria verna)

Life cycle: perennial, 3- to 9-in; herbaceous invasive found in moist, wooded floodplains
Growth habit: introduced as an ornamental plant having shiny, dark green, kidney-shaped leaves; flowers with glossy, bright yellow petals in early spring; entire plant goes dormant in summer.
Reproduction: spreads by finger-like tuberous roots

Tuberous lesser celandine roots
Photo: C. Carignan

Control: dig up clumps, making sure to remove all tuberous roots

Lesser celandine overtakes a natural area

Additional Resources

• Herbaceous Invasives Control 
• (PDF) HG88 Invasive Plant Control in Maryland
• Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas
• (PDF) Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas