About wildflowers: Lesser Celandine

Lesser Celandine - Ranunculus ficaria

Irish name - Grán Arcáin
Buttercup family - Ranunculaceae

Lesser Celandine is one of the first flowering plants to appear at the end of the winter (February to May). The plant itself is small (5-30cm tall) with dark, heart-shaped leaves. The flowers, which appear on a short stalk, form a carpet of yellow stars in woodland, under hedgerows, in ditches and along streams.

It is found on damp soils in the pH range of 4 to 8, but is more commonly found in pHs of 6 to 6.5. Lesser Celandine is an important early nectar source but, in wet and windy weather, the petals close.

Propagation

There are three ways to grow Lesser Celandine.

From seed

Collect the seeds as they ripen in the spring. However, the early months in this part of the world may be too cold for many insects, so fertilization can be poor.

By tuber

Small tubers form in the angle between the leaf stalk and the stem. These drop off in early summer and grow into new plants.

By division

Lesser Celandine is a perennial plant. The tops of the plants die back after flowering, but the roots continue to live and grow under the ground. These are actually bulbs or tubers, which store the plant’s energy until the next year. Lifting and dividing clumps can be a very successful way of growing new plants.

The following grow in similar habitats (alphabetical by common name)

Permission from the landowner - and, if the site holds any kind of designation, from Environment & Heritage Service too - must be sought before collecting plant material (including seeds).