A small perennial growing up to 5cm. The leaves are heart-shaped and on long stalks. The foliage dies back during the summer and reappears during the winter. The yellow star-like flowers are one of the earliest of our wild flowers to appear - from March to May. Each tiny bulbil will develop into a cluster of bulbils over the following year. They are best planted where they can be left undisturbed where they will spread to form a carpet of colour in early spring.
More Information:
Distribution: Native perennial of woods and shady places throughout Britain.
Habitat: Native perennial of woods and shady places preferring damp conditions.
Description: A small perennial growing up to 15cm. The leaves are heart-shaped and on long stalks. The foliage dies back during the summer and reappears during the winter. The yellow star-like flowers are one of the earliest of our wild flowers to appear - from March to May. The flower closes up in dull weather.
Uses: Culpepper writes in the seventeenth century that Lesser Celandine was also known as Pilewort on account of it's use in curing haemorrhoids! He also claimed it cured his own daughter of the so-called 'king's evil' or scrofula.
Planting Instructions for Dormant Bulbils:Lesser Celandine bulbils should be planted in the autumn as soon as received. Each tiny bulbil will develop into a cluster of bulbils over the next year. They are best planted where they can be left undisturbed where they will spread to form a carpet of colour in early spring. Plant with 4-5cm of soil above the bulbils, so that the soil covering does not dry out during the Summer. Choose a site which will remain damp during the summer as if the soil does dry out, the plant may not have sufficient moisture to build up the bulbils for flowering the following year.
Plant the bulbils as soon as received.
These bulbils were grown in Britain from cultivated stock.
