Have you seen a little yellow flower that you think is very pretty blooming on your property??? It forms a ground-covering carpet of bright green, heart-shaped leaves dotted with ranunculus-like flowers. You may have looked at it and thought it was the first sign of spring!
If your answer is yes, prepare for battle! This is a really nasty invasive species that comes from Europe and is taking over North America. Is buttercup would beLesser celandine or, more commonly, a friendly buttercup.
It was introduced as an ornamental plant into commerce in the late 19th century and took off at lightning speed. A spring ephemeral, the plant appears very early in the spring, outcompeting and crowding out other spring ephemerals, and has a very short growth window. Ephemeral simply means that it appears for a short period of time, taking advantage of the available light before the trees leaf out, and then disappears.
Lesser celandine belongs to the Buttercup family and is spreading rampantly everywhere and can grow in all types of conditions. I see it on many job sites and the first order of business is to spray it repeatedly with a strong systemic herbicide before it takes over the entire property. It is possible, but very difficult, to dig up, and most of the time, digging simply spreads due to the finger-like tubers underground. If you use this method, carefully package all plant parts in bags and dispose of them in the trash, not the compost! You’ll surely leave some behind, so keep an eye out for stragglers. If you want to spray an organic herbicide, there are several available at the hardware store, but it will require repeated applications.
It completes its life cycle in winter and spring and disappears when warm weather arrives, but is just preparing to emerge in increasing numbers the following spring with multiplied tubers. He is relentless and very aggressive! This invasive is smothering all the most desirable native plants that are so necessary for local pollinators. Minor
Celandine emerges much earlier than native species and can establish and occupy areas quickly; There are no natural predators to keep it under control, it spreads…. and it spreads… and it spreads. And the diversity of the ecosystem suffers.
Sometimes, when transplanting a plant from another property, it is possible to unknowingly import it. I did this and as soon as I saw it at the base of the desirable plant, I dug it up immediately. Using an herbicide would have killed the other plant, so I’ll be on the lookout to make sure I have it all. So be careful with plant gifts! And remember, persistence is key with this plant. You can get rid of it, but it will take time.
Spray with an herbicide early and as soon as flowers appear when the weather is at least 50 degrees. read this article for tips on what type of herbicides work from Penn State. As spring progresses, spraying becomes less successful and you are more likely to over-spray other species. If you don’t attack this as soon as it appears on your property, you’ll have ten times the amount you had the first time. I normally do not recommend herbicides for control of any species, but this is one case where you will need to take this step. You can dig up small infestations, but larger ones will need herbicides.
Often on a property, lesser celandine comes from a neighbor. Talk to your neighbor and let them know how important it is for the environment to get rid of this noxious weed.
To learn more, read this great article. ‘Lesser celandine: an aggressive, non-native spring ephemeral’ and Fact Sheet: Lesser Celandine.
