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Lesser Celandine

Ficaria verna

Not yet photographed by the community

First gleam of gold in late winter; closes in dull weather.

Species Profile

Not of conservation concern in the UK; locally invasive in some garden contexts.

Lifespan: 1–2 years (annual or short-lived perennial)
Size & Weight: 10–30 cm tall; leaves 1–4 cm across
Habitat: Damp woodlands, hedgerows, meadows, and disturbed ground with moist soil, flowering in late winter and early spring.
UK Distribution: Common throughout England, Wales, and southern Scotland; widespread and abundant across most lowland areas.
Diet: Photosynthetic plant requiring moisture, sunlight, and nutrients from soil; no predation.
Predators: Slugs, snails, and occasionally deer browse seedlings; seeds eaten by ants and small rodents.
Mating Season: February to May (flowering period)
Breeding: Reproduces via seed and vegetatively through tubers and bulbils; self-compatible; prolific seeder producing hundreds of seeds per plant.
Behaviour: Flowers close in dull weather and at night. Dies back completely by early summer, creating a brief window of bare ground. Spreads rapidly through disturbed soils and has become increasingly common in recent decades.

Did You Know?

•Also known as Fig Buttercup; the name 'celandine' comes from the Greek word for swallow, as it flowers when swallows arrive.
•Produces shiny, glossy petals that reflect light, making the flowers appear almost plastic-like.
•Capable of vegetative reproduction through underground tubers, allowing a single plant to establish large colonies.
•Historically used in folk medicine to treat warts and skin conditions, though the sap can cause irritation.
•Creates impressive early spring displays in woodlands before tree canopies fully leaf out, then disappears entirely by June.

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