Lesser Celandine, Ficaria Verna

Home , Asarum canadense, Dicentra canadensis

The survival strategy of native ephemeral wildflowers is to grow and flower early in the spring before leaf-out of the forest canopy. By LESSER doing so, these plants receive needed sunlight and can take advantage of nutrients released from decaying material over the winter. Lesser CELANDINE celandine uses the same strategy, but starts growing earlier in the season (Ranunculus ficaria) and is far more aggressive in its use of space . Once established, lesser celandine spreads rapidly across the forest floor to form a blanket of leaves which native species are unable to penetrate.

CTERISTICS Y CHARA WHERE FROM WHERE FOUND Lesser celandine is a The tiny white bulblets are Celandine was introduced Lesser celandine is currently F perennial, herbaceous plant attached to leafstalks and to the United States as an found in 20 northeastern I in the buttercup family are easily dislodged from ornamental plant. Unfortu - states and in the Pacific T (Ranunculaceae). Leaves the plant. A mass of small, nately, it is still available Northwest. It is reported to are shiny, dark green, and gray, fingerlike tuberous commercially in the U.S. be invasive in Pennsylvania

N kidney-shaped. Stalked roots underlies each plant. All varieties of lesser and Delaware, as well as leaves may appear as early Bulblets and tubers are celandine should be seven other states and D.C . E as January. Glossy, butter- easily carried downstream assumed to be invasive. It occurs most commonly on yellow flowers appear in during flood events and moist, forested floodplains D March and April supported may be unearthed and and in some drier upland I y

c on delicate stalks above the scattered by the digging areas, and seems to prefer n a v

r leaves. Flowers have 8–12 activities of some animals. sandy soils. e s n

o petals. Above-ground C

e portions of lesser celandine n i w

y die back by early June. d n a

r When in bloom, large infes- B

| tations of lesser celandine E N

I appear as a green carpet D

N with yellow dots, spread A

L LESSER CELANDINE

E across the forest floor. Brandywine Conservancy C

R Celandine reproduces E S S

E primarily through bulblets L and underground tubers. LESSER CELANDINE Brandywine Conservancy

L CHEMICAL METHOD MANUAL METHOD Lesser celandine can be herbicide in March when For small infestations, much as possible. For this O effectively controlled temperatures are 40°F lesser celandine may be reason, mechanical control

R using a 1–2% solution of or warmer. Follow label pulled up by hand or dug may be inappropriate for

T glyphosate (e.g., Roundup ). instructions and state up using a hand trowel or large infestations in high ) /

s Use a wetland-approved requirements. shovel. It is very important quality natural areas. t n a l N

p concentration of to remove all bulblets and Cutting alone will often /

v (Read and follow all o g .

) glyphosate (e.g., Rodeo ) tubers. When conducting not control the problem; s g

p herbicide labels carefully r n o O . . e w near streams. Apply mechanical removal, care many times it will encour - v i w

) before use. ) s s w a u ( .

v should be taken to mini - age new growth. a e n i p c . . C n e w t a

i mize soil disturbance as a l w t l s . w r A (

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e t s o s e C R y c When removing, be shaped leaves and flowers, REPLANT r s t u o n c a o l s

E careful not to remove or but its stalks are 8 inches P e

, Replant area with native alternatives such as: d R

e n l c a a i destroy desirable species. or more in height and r s v u r e B t i e Wild ginger Cutleaf toothwort a c S e

N Don’t confuse with native consist of 5– 9 deep-yellow

p k f r

S (Asarum canadense ) (Cardamine concatenata ) o a

e P n marsh marigold (Caltha petals. Additionally, marsh v l i o M i a s t n a

a Dutchman’s breeches Twinleaf o v v i palustris), a desirable marigold does not produce r t n I e a E

s r (Dicentra cucullaria ) (Jeffersonia diphylla ) N n o

, f wetland plant that also tubers or bulblets, nor o r

r o C i e

t r f Squirrel-corn Bloodroot e n o

t occurs in the eastern U.S. does it form a continuous

e . n M t I C p

(Dicentra canadensis ) (Sanguinaria canadensis ) e e a i

h Marsh marigold also has carpet of growth. D t g

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E glossy, rounded or kidney- t a G

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