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Ranunculaceae
King Cup
Caltha palustris
Wealth and coming of spring.
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Genus
- Caltha
- Native to
- Europe, North America, Northern Asia
- Bloom season
- Spring
- Type
- perennial
- Height
- 1-2 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun to partial shade
- Soil
- wet, boggy, rich clay
- Water
- high
- Hardiness
- 3-7
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- Also called Marsh Marigold, it is one of the earliest spring wildflowers, blooming along stream banks when snow is still melting.
- The bright yellow flowers were historically used to make a golden dye for butter and as a food coloring in rural Europe.
- All parts of the plant are mildly toxic when raw but were eaten after thorough boiling by various indigenous cultures.
- In medieval England, garlands of King Cup were hung over doorways on May Day to ward off witches and evil spirits.
- It was once so common along English streams that Shakespeare likely referred to it as 'mary-buds' in the song from Cymbeline.
Color meanings
0
desire for riches
1
joy
2
coming of spring