Ranunculus ficaria var. aurantiacus
Garden Plant Information

Ranunculus ficaria var. aurantiacus

 

Ranunculus ficaria var. aurantiacus

 

Name

Ranunculus ficaria var. aurantiacus (also called lesser celandine and at one time known as pilewort, referring to the shape of the roots)

Genus  

Ranunculus

Species

ficaria var. aurantiacus

Cultivar/variety

 

General description

Deciduous hardy perennial. An orange-flowered variety of the common lesser celandine. Can be used in a woodland setting, in borders, for edging or at the water's edge. The wildflower is invasive and this one may be too, if it's very comfortable - in which case, use only for containers. Flowers attract bees and beetles.

Season of interest

Flowers in spring, leaves persist till summer.

Key horticultural features

  1. Habit - spreading, low growing.

  2. Leaves - glossy, heart-shaped, dark green with silvery markings.

  3. Flowers -  bright orange, cup-shaped, with eight petals and orange stamens.

Cultural details

Aspect

Full sun to dappled shade.

Soil

Moist but well-drained, otherwise not too fussy.

Hardiness

Hardy.

Maintenance

Little needed unless you plan to restrict the plant's spread. If you do need to do this, take care to remove all the small rounded sections of root from the soil, otherwise it will spread.

 

The whole plant dies back in summer, not reappearing again till the following spring, so mark it to prevent accidental damage.

Propagation

Spreads naturally by its tuberous and roots and by seed. This orange type may not come true from seed if the other types are growing nearby.