Scientific Name
Chelidonium majus L.
Common Name(s)
Celandine, Great Celandine, Greater Celandine, Tetterwort, Nipplewort, Swallowwort
Synonym(s)
Chelidonium cavaleriei, Chelidonium dahuricum, Chelidonium grandiflorum, Chelidonium haematodes, Chelidonium laciniatum, Chelidonium murale, Chelidonium olidum, Chelidonium quercifolium, Chelidonium ruderale, Chelidonium umbelliferum
Scientific Classification
Family: Papaveraceae
Subfamily: Papaveroideae
Tribe: Chelidonieae
Genus: Chelidonium
Flower
Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Late spring to summer
Description
Chelidonium majus is a perennial herb that grows up to 3.9 feet (1.2 m) tall. The leaves are pinnate with lobed and wavy-edged margins and up to 11.8 inches (30 cm) long.
The flowers consist of four yellow petals, each up to 0.4 inches (1 cm) long with two sepals. They appear in umbelliform cymes of about four flowers from late spring to summer.
How to Grow and Care
Greater Celandine will grow in almost any soil except waterlogged, but it does like a reasonable amount of water. Ideal plant for part or full shade, but it will grow in full sun in lower zones (6 and 7) provided it has moisture. Prefers a rich woodland soil in semi-shade with decent moisture. It is an excellent choice for growing on partially shaded walls or in rock gardens, provided there is a pocket of soil to establish its roots. It is a short-lived perennial, but it will self-seed in suitable locations, sometimes aggressively, and take over thin woodland areas if left alone.
Germination can be slow and erratic, with some seeds taking up to twelve months to sprout. It can be sown in place in early spring or late fall. If choosing this approach, keep weeds in the area to a minimum to allow seeds time to germinate and plants to establish. Once the first ones are established, they often self-seed and proliferate, but this can take several years to achieve. Seeds can also be started in pots. See more at How to Grow and Care for Greater Celandine.
Origin
Chelidonium majus is native to Europe and western Asia and introduced widely in North America.
Links
- Back to genus Hibiscus
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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