Report #2040 - Report: Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria)

Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) on Mar 29, 2017

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

Several clumps of what appears to be lesser celandine, in bloom.

Commentary

Hi, Brenda. Thanks for your report. Lesser celandine, sadly, has become one of those species that has moved beyond 'early detection/rapid response' status. It's been known at Marquam since at least 2008, and Parks has had some success at managing it. However, management has been nearly impossible this year due to the rain during the optimal treatment window (early February-mid-March). At a larger scale, lesser celandine has been seen and/or reported all over Portland, far exceeding the capacity of the EDRR program (that would be me) to affect, to say nothing of eradicate.

I know that's not a satisfying response, but it is the current reality. Please free to check in anytime (mitch.bixby@portlandoregon.gov) if you'd like discuss this in more detail.

-Mitch

Mitch Bixby
March 30, 2017, 4:07 a.m.

Remedy

For small patches, plants can be dug up in their entirety (be sure to get all roots and the small bulbils that break off to form new plants - you may need to sift through your soil to get these). Do not compost or put in your yard debris bin any below-ground parts of the plant (tubers and bulbils) as they can be spread this way. The leaves and flowers are ok to compost or put in yard debris. For larger patches, digging is impractical and can cause a lot of disturbance; herbicide application may have more success. * Lesser Celandine: National Park Service fact sheet *Lesser Celandine info from West Multnomah SWCD

Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) on Mar 29, 2017

Description of specimen

Commentary

Remedy

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