marsh marigold

Caltha palustris

Marsh marigolds are bright yellow flowers that bloom in wet areas. They look like little suns shining in the marshes and are loved by many insects.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The marsh marigold has bright, waxy, cup-shaped yellow flowers, often with 5-9 petals. Its glossy, kidney-shaped leaves are vibrant green, forming dense clumps close to the ground.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRanunculalesFamilyRanunculaceaeGenusCaltha

marsh marigold

Interesting facts

Its bright yellow petals reflect light, warming its flowers like tiny sun-collectors!

Its scientific name, Caltha, means 'goblet' or 'cup' in Greek!

Pickled marsh marigold flower buds were once eaten like capers!

These sunny flowers are not true marigolds; they're buttercup family!

Special abilities

Marsh marigold has special roots that can handle standing water, helping it thrive in soggy soil where other plants would drown.

It can flower very early in spring, giving it a head start attracting pollinators before many other plants wake up.

Its seeds can float on water, allowing them to travel to and colonize new wet areas for reproduction.

Measurements & details

Height: 15-60 cm
Spread: 20-40 cm
Flower Size: 2-5 cm
Bloom Season: Early spring to summer
Edible: No
Toxicity: Mild
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

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Ecological connections

pollinates

European honey bee

Apis mellifera

Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.

pollinates

Buff-tailed bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

A key pollinator for early spring blooms.

pollinates

Common hoverfly

Syrphus ribesii

Larvae eat aphids, adults pollinate flowers.

Traits

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Spring Blooming

Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.

Broadleaf Tree

Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.

Medicinal

Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.

Edible

Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.