03/09/2026
The first truly lovely spring day and these little terrible things are up and at it again. Lesser celandine/ficaria verna is a terribly invasive spring ephemeral native to Europe, north Africa and Western Asia. It spreads aggressively and is a scourge on the eco system. Now is a good time to tackle small infestation mechanically. The root system is weak, the ground is soft and the bulb is still well attached to the strong fleshy leaf stem. I use these early spring opportunities to remove as much of it as possible. Then I let it dry out a little and add it to the fire pit. Remember, it can’t go in the compost, i can’t be left in the woodland or allowed to spread more. Setting it on fire seems like an ok idea. Remember that this plant goes dormant and can hitch a ride with your transplants later in the season - keep that in mind when you are sharing plants with friends. Happy spring!
