Now is the time we are seeing a plant called Lesser Celandine.
Ficaria verna (previously Ranunculus ficaria) for the people who like Latin names.
It is a “spring ephemeral” meaning it spends most of the year hidden from view as underground tubers (bulb-like roots). While many people aren’t familiar with the name, I bet they see it all over in yards, along the roadsides, and in the woods near creeks. It can be quite beautiful unless you consider that the dense “carpet’ it forms chokes out native spring wildflowers, particularly spring ephemerals like Trilliums, Mayapples, and Dutchman’s Breeches. The plants seldom grow more than 4 – 5” above the soil, but the dense root systems grow together to form mat-like impenetrable canopies which is where the problem lies. While it is pretty when in bloom, unfortunately this plant should be killed if you find it in your yard.
This Non-native highly-invasive weed belongs to the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. (It is sometimes called “fig buttercup”). I have heard people refer to it as buttercup plant, referring to the bloom. Lesser celandine is native to Europe, northern Africa, western Asia, and Siberia. Lesser celandine appears on the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s List of Invasive Plants!
The most effective solution for killing Lesser Celandine is to spray with a non-selective herbicide like Round-Up or KillzAll. If the infestation is large and dense multiple applications over several years may be required. The best time to spray is while it is in full bloom. Shortly after the blooms are finished the plant starts going dormant for the season. Once dormant there is no way to spray. Manually digging the tubers has not been very effective.
ALSO, try not to confuse our native Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) with lesser celandine! Both are spring ephemerals that belong to the buttercup family with similar-looking yellow flowers. Both have rounded leaves and little yellow, daisy-like flowers. Lesser Celandine has 7-12 petals on the flower and longer more narrow petals, while our native marsh marigold only has 5-9 petals and the flowers are smaller with a more round shape.
@whiteoakgardens