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Greater Celandine

©Philip Precey

Greater celandine

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Scientific name: Chelidonium majus
Greater celandine is a very common plant that spreads easily in the garden, on waste ground and in hedgerows. It is considered a weed, but the small, yellow flowers provide nectar for insects.

Top facts

Stats

Height: up to 90cm

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

April to October

About

Greater celandine is a tall plant of woodland rides, hedgerows, roadsides and waste ground, and often grows as a garden 'weed'. Also known as the 'Celandine poppy', it is a member of the poppy family, so is not related to the similarly named Lesser celandine, which is a member of the buttercup family. Greater celandine flowers from April to October.

What to look for

Greater celandine is a tall plant. It has custard-yellow flowers, similar to those of a buttercup, but its petals do not overlap. It has strongly lobed, grey-green leaves. It could easily be confused with some members of the cabbage family.

Where to find

Widespread.

Did you know?

The distinctive orange sap of Greater celandine was historically used as a herbal remedy for warts.