PlantFiles: Celandine, Greater Celandine
Chelidonium majus

Weedy nonnative species that spreads by seeds - never grow weedy plants that spreads that way - you will never know where they will pop up next. I got and planted one by mistake - it was labeled Woodland Poppy but I found out when the seedpods develop - different from Woodland Poppy by its mustard - like seed pods while Woodland Poppy have rounded hairy seed pods. I got rid of the single plant without having it seed anywhere.

It's become so invasive and such a problem that my reason for adding this note is just a warning to others as to how it might go astray for you, too.

I noticed this plant growing in the border area at the back of my yard....it was in a shady area where mature trees and young trees were growing....I noticed it blooming in early May....it is now the end of July and it is still blooming and putting on new growth. I hope it will reseed itself as it is a perfect plant for that location. I will probably help mother nature and put seeds where I would like them to establish themselves. Does this plant flower the first year?

This first appeared as a volunteer on the edge of my lawn. When trying to uproot it, we noticed the lurid orange juice, and realized it must be some sort of dye plant. Took me awhile to identify it, but then found it growing in cottage gardens of old Dutch colonial farmsteads around here. One prefered spot was between rhubarb plants against barn walls.
Mine produces copious amounts of seed, but does not have a particularly high germination rate. The leaves are a pretty bluish shade. My plants don't last too long, a couple of years at most, but it does reseed sufficiently so I always have a couple. Looks great with blue spiderworts.

This plant grows wild in my zone (4a). I collected seeds from the wild and grew it easily in my garden. By the third year, it was bushy and flowered continuously from May till frost. It is a wonderful foil for showier flowers, such as bleeding heart, wild geranium, and lilies. I had no pest problems, it reseeded a bit, but not invasively. This year, I rescued a volunteer from a common area before the weed whackers got to it and am planting it again at my new house. The flowers on mine are double, adding to the charm. This is apparently a spontaneous mutation.

I agree whole heartedly with Baa.

It will grow in practically any soil, full sun or shade but prefers dappled shade and slightly moist soil.
Self seeds like no bodies business.
Sow seeds direct in Spring.

My landlord wants to mow 'em down; but he can't. They're in my protective custody.
*~~*
Celandine, Greater
Botanical: Chelidonium majus (LINN.)
Family: N.O. Papaveraceae

From this place:
[HYPERLINK@botanical.com]

The orange-coloured, acrid juice is commonly used fresh to cure warts, ringworm and corns, but should not be allowed to come into contact with any other part of the skin. (Yes it did turn my hands orange/yellow and removed some of the outer layer of skin it touched; when trying to remove some seeds. *It 'Bled' orange colored sap!) It took 2 weeks for the orange to disappear. Next time I'll use rubber kitchen gloves.

Other than that it was harmless to me. It help the wart BTY.

If you're interested in other Herbals check here:

Common Name Index:
[HYPERLINK@botanical.com]

Or start here:
[HYPERLINK@botanical.com]

Clump forming, short lived perennial, which sometimes acts as a biennial, from Europe and Western Asia.

Has blue-green, lobed leaves with scalloped edges. Bears yellow, 4 petalled flowers.

Flowers May-July

Will grow in practically any soil, full sun or shade but prefers dappled shade and slightly moist soil.

Self seeds like no bodies business.

Sow seeds direct in Spring.

The flowers of Greater Celandine look like tiny yellow Poppies, but its fruits appear more like those of the cresses and cabbages. The slender capsule splits open from the base releasing tiny black seeds, each with a fleshy, oily outgrowth that is eagerly sought by ants that carry off and disperse the seeds. The plant was formerly widely used for the treatment of sore or cloudy eyes, although the bright orange sap is acrid and poisonous. External application of the sap was used to treat warts, corns and ringworm, although it will equally damage any skin that it touches. In Russia, the plant has been used as an anti-cancer drug. The native distibution of Greater Celandine has been obscured by innumerable escapes from cultivation; it is now found in gardens mostly as a weed.