Lesser Celandine
Ficaria verna
Also listed as Ranunculus ficaria
Also known as Pilewort, Fig Buttercup, Fig-root Buttercup
Climate Match for your location
See how well Lesser Celandine grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
A low-growing spring ephemeral with bright yellow flowers that bloom early in the season. It spreads vigorously via tubers and self-seeds, making it useful as a groundcover in woodland or shaded areas.
Why grow it
Lesser celandine emerges earlier than most spring groundcovers and establishes quickly in moist, shaded sites where other herbaceous plants struggle. Its small, bright yellow flowers provide early-season nectar and pollen, and it requires minimal maintenance once established. However, gardeners seeking similar spring ephemerals with less aggressive spread may prefer native alternatives like trout lily or bloodroot, which offer comparable aesthetic and ecological benefits with greater restraint.
Watch out for
This plant can dominate moist areas and become difficult to control once tubers fragment and redistribute through soil disturbance. Hand removal is tedious because any small tuber fragments left behind will regrow; consistent removal over multiple seasons may be necessary if containment becomes necessary.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
Native Range
Europe and Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing spring ephemeral with bright yellow flowers that bloom early in the season. It spreads vigorously via tubers and self-seeds, making it useful as a groundcover in woodland or shaded areas.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Lesser Celandine grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Lesser celandine emerges earlier than most spring groundcovers and establishes quickly in moist, shaded sites where other herbaceous plants struggle. Its small, bright yellow flowers provide early-season nectar and pollen, and it requires minimal maintenance once established. However, gardeners seeking similar spring ephemerals with less aggressive spread may prefer native alternatives like trout lily or bloodroot, which offer comparable aesthetic and ecological benefits with greater restraint.
Watch out for
This plant can dominate moist areas and become difficult to control once tubers fragment and redistribute through soil disturbance. Hand removal is tedious because any small tuber fragments left behind will regrow; consistent removal over multiple seasons may be necessary if containment becomes necessary.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
Native Range
Europe and Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.