# lesser celandine (*Ficaria verna*) Lesser celandine is a bright yellow flower that blooms in spring. It grows close to the ground and loves to spread across gardens and fields, making them look sunny and cheerful. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 43 - **Habitat:** Woodlands - **Also known as:** Ficaria ![lesser celandine](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/20150324Ficaria_verna4.jpg&width=800) Photo: AnRo0002, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20150324Ficaria_verna4.jpg) ## Appearance The lesser celandine has bright, glossy yellow flowers, typically with 8-12 petals that radiate around a central cluster of stamens. Its heart-shaped, dark green leaves are often shiny and grow low to the ground, forming dense carpets. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ranunculales - **Family:** Ranunculaceae - **Genus:** Ficaria ## Interesting facts - It vanishes by early summer, waiting hidden underground for next spring's warmth! - It's one of spring's first flowers, sometimes blooming right through late snow! - Its glossy yellow petals act like tiny mirrors, reflecting light for early insects! - Its tiny roots swell like little figs, giving it part of its scientific name! ## Special abilities - **Sun Seeker:** Lesser celandine can bloom very early, before trees grow leaves, helping it get lots of sun. - **Underground Power:** It has special tubers in its roots to store energy, helping it survive winter and regrow. - **Self-Defense Potion:** Lesser celandine can produce a mild toxin when fresh, which helps protect it from being eaten. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-20 cm - **Spread:** 10-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late winter to early spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — visits flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — a vital source of early spring nectar. - **Eaten by:** Spanish slug (*Arion vulgaris*) — grazes on its leaves and flowers. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not eat any part of the plant, as it can make you feel unwell. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify lesser celandine? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is lesser celandine? 5-20 cm ### How wide does lesser celandine spread? 10-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on lesser celandine? 2-3 cm ### When does lesser celandine bloom? Late winter to early spring ### Is lesser celandine edible? No ### Is lesser celandine toxic? Mild ### What is lesser celandine's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Chadwick Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chadwick-arboretum) — Ohio, US · Botanical Garden - [Chestnut Ridge Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chestnut-ridge-park) — New York, US · Park - [Circleville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/circleville-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Concord](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/concord) — Tennessee, US · Neighborhood - [Duke Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/duke-gardens) — New Jersey, US · Botanical Garden - [Durso Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/durso-park) — Illinois, US · Park [View all places to see lesser celandine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/lesser-celandine) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Lesser Celandine: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lesser-celandine)