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| An imposter is blooming now in woodlands throughout Ohio, with bright yellow flowers that belie its negative impact on our North American ecosystems. In its native range, lesser celandine is a spring ephemeral that provides valuable pollen and nectar for pollinators like bumblebees. It was brought across the Atlantic as an ornamental plant, like so many other non-native invaders. In Ohio, it grows quickly each spring, outcompeting our native ephemeral wildflowers and spreading by both roots and aerial bulbils (aka top sets), before disappearing by summer. The plant can also spread by seed, but it mostly relies on asexual reproduction. As the foliage dies back, the bulbils can still be spread by seasonal flooding, spreading it much further than the roots alone can travel. Management of this invasive species can be tedious. Action should be taken as soon as you notice it, and before it has time to spread across the landscape. You also have a limited time to react, as removal is impractical once the foliage disappears. For early infestations, digging out the roots, bagging, and trashing all plant material (especially the roots and bulbils) may be the best recourse, but admittedly can lead to a long-term project as it is very difficult to remove every single tuber. Proper and careful glyphosate application may be another option, especially for larger colonies. If you have ever seen patches of this cheerful yellow flower while on a walk and grown fond of its appearance without knowing what it was, there are some great alternatives that are native to Ohio that might bring you some joy! Marsh marigold is quite similar, preferring average to moist soils in full sun to full shade. It can even tolerate spring flooding and standing water. Wood poppy (aka celandine poppy) is another great alternative, growing in part to full shade with moist soil in the spring. Though it is ephemeral, it can persist through the summer when the soil is kept moist enough. We currently have an excellent selection of both as well |
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