Double Flowered Greater Celandine 'Flore Pleno'

The flowers are much smaller and less showy than those of our native celandine poppy (Stylphorum diphyllum). In other respects the two pl...Read Moreants look very similar, with similar leaves, and with similar cultural requirements.

I find that whiteflies can be a problem for this species.

This can self-sow weedily and aggressively. If pulled, the brittle stem snaps at ground level without taking the roots.

It is reported invasive here in eastern N. America: http://www.invasive.org/weedcd/species/11543.htm

It is a cute flower and a tough plant. It grows and flowers well in dry shade under my maples. It seems to like cool weather, can become ...Read Morelush and large in fall, and keeps some leaves through winter. Beware the self seeding, however, these are soft plants and not that hard to remove. The single flowered form of Chelidonium majus has become widespread in North America. You may wish to consider the native North American Stylophorum diphyllum.

[moved from Chelidonium majus]

I transplanted a double-flowered version from my grandparents, and put it in full sun in th...Read Moree boulevard garden.

It grows well. In April it produces leaves in a rosette, replacing the leaves that remained from the past year. In May it produces flower stalks, and continues flowering throughout the summer.

After the flower stalks have three or more pods on them, I pick them off, to prevent them from seeding all over the garden. Individual plants seem to peter out eventually, sometimes rotting from the wetness in March. But usually there's a new seedling to take over, in spite of the deadheading.

The current plant is a little more than knee-high and as wide, and has many flowering stems.

I received seeds for this plant a couple of years ago. At first I thought it was the standard Celandine/Wood Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllu...Read Morem), but when it bloomed the flowers were fully double and it became clear after the seedpods formed it was the double form of Chelidonium majus.

My plant is now approximately 18" tall and 24" wide. It flowers in periodic flushes from early spring through late fall/early winter. The foliage is a very pretty, fresh green in spring and darkens slightly as it ages and in my area (zone 6b) it is semi-evergreen. Dew or rain droplets will often collect on the leaves and will look like little glittering jewels.

My plant is situated in a NW exposure flower bed where it gets bright light all day and some direct sun in the early morning and mid-afternoon. Leaves may become bruised, tattered or broken if exposed to high winds but once established the plant can usually replace damaged leaves that are removed. The soil it's growing in is clay with lots of organic matter added to it. It has average drainage in its current location. Due to the somewhat protected spot the plant is in the soil stays evenly moist and on the cooler side, but I believe this plant can also tolerate somewhat drier conditions on occasion.

The bright yellow flowers are small (1/2" - 3/4" diameter) and are quite showy and abundant. They are held mostly above the pretty foliage and are quite eye-catching. I really enjoy the easy care required for growing this plant and the fact that it blooms for such a long period and has consistently attractive foliage.

It does set lots of seed in mid to late summer, so deadheading is probably a good idea if you don't want lots of volunteers. The volunteers are very easy to remove though if you don't want them. The bright yellow/orange latex sap can stain fingers or clothes and may be a skin irritant for some people. It is an introduced plant to the U.S. and has supposed herbal remedy uses. No disease problems noted, and few insect pests have bothered it. Occasionally it will get a few aphids on the buds or growth tips or a slug might chew a hole in a leaf or two, but besides that nothing else has botherered it.

You might consider trying this plant in a woodland setting or a shady spot of your garden where you want a lower growing perennial with full, fresh green foliage and cheerful yet delicate bright yellow blooms. :-)