Lesser Celandine

Common name: Lesser Celandine

Botanical name: Ranunculus ficaria

Family: Ranunculaceae

Life cycle: Perennial

General:  Lesser celandine is a member of the buttercup group of plants. It is one of the first plants to emerge during the spring and it soon disappears again during the early part of summer. It is a very common site in spring time with its lovely yellow flowers.

Habitat: This low growing weed prefers damp shaded sites and is often very common along hedgerows, woodlands and dyke banks.

Leaf: Lesser celandine has dark green and large, glossy, heart shaped leaves. The leaves sometimes have light green patches giving a verigated appearance to the plant.

Flowers: The flowers can be seen from March to May. They are yellow in colour, however the petals are somewhat thinner and more pointed than other buttercups.

Removal & Control: Lesser celandine can be removed by digging them out of the lawn, taking care to remove the whole of the plant.

Controlling this weed with a selective herbicide will prove a tough job. One problem is, is this weed appears and disappears in a short period of time. The other problem is that it is tolerant to most weed killers. The only weed killer that will have any effect on lesser celandine is one that contains the ingredient M.C.P.A.
It will need treating as soon as the leaves are formed.

A single dose will not be enough to effectively control this weed and further treatments will be needed. Even then you still may not be successful. However look on the bright side, lesser celandine is very picturesque when it is in full bloom and at least it disappears again, often by the end of May.