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Ranunculaceae
Lesser Celandine
Ficaria verna
Joy of spring's return.
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Genus
- Ficaria
- Native to
- Europe, Western Asia, North Africa
- Bloom season
- Early Spring
- Type
- tuberous perennial
- Height
- 0.2-0.5 ft
- Sunlight
- part shade to full sun
- Soil
- moist, humus-rich
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 4-8
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- Lesser celandine was William Wordsworth's favorite flower — he wrote three poems about it, and a carving of the plant was originally planned for his grave, though the stonemason accidentally carved greater celandine instead.
- The flowers track the sun's position throughout the day (heliotropism) and close during cloudy weather and at night, protecting the pollen from rain and dew.
- Despite its charming spring appearance, lesser celandine has become an invasive species in eastern North America, carpeting floodplain forests and outcompeting native spring wildflowers like trout lily and trillium.
- The plant contains protoanemonin, a toxic compound that can cause blistering of the mouth and skin — like many Ranunculaceae members, it is best admired rather than handled or eaten.
- Lesser celandine is geophytic and summer-dormant, disappearing completely by late spring after setting seed — the entire above-ground part of the plant lives for only 8–10 weeks each year.
Color meanings
0
joy
1
cheerfulness
2
first hope