Report #6929 - Report: Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)

Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) on Mar 29, 2025

Submitter has sample
EDRR Status: Ongoing monitoring

Description of specimen

There is a patchy colony in our lawn and a very established strip along the side of the house just inside our gate. The yellow flowers are very pretty, and I initially left it alone because I thought it was some kind of large buttercup.

Commentary

Hi Rachel, thank you for using the hotline to report this species. You're actually right on with it looking like a buttercup because it is in the buttercup family. Unfortunately, it is an aggressive noxious weed member of the family. As far as I am aware, best management practices to prevent the further infestation of this species involves repeated excavation of any reemerging plants, and depending on your comfort level, herbicide application (around this time of year). Can you describe or provide a photo of the area of your garden that has this plant? It would help me visualize what species can be planted in its place.

Cierra Dawson
March 31, 2025, 2:29 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 (Ficaria verna) on Mar 29, 2025

Description of specimen

Commentary

Remedy

Resources

Location

Expert Reviewer