Rcognise lesser celandines

17th March 2021

Ficaria verna (formerly Ranunculus ficaria) thrives in damp soils and partial shade, but its golden yellow flowers open best in full sun. A drift of bright yellow on a grass verge is a welcome sign of spring, but in the garden the celandine is really hard to eradicate once it establishes. The tiny root tubers were once used to treat piles, under the 'Doctrine of Signatures' which meant if a plant resembled part of the body, it was obviously medicinal for it!