Since the celandine usually leads a relatively inconspicuous existence in nature, finding celandine is sometimes not that easy. You are therefore most likely to spot wild specimens during the flowering period, when the dainty yellow flowers open on the plants.
Celandine blooms from spring through fall
A perennial summer bloomer
Depending on the location, celandine usually flowers between the end of April and the beginning of October. The plant is also attractive as a garden plant because it keeps producing new flowers during the flowering period. Visually, the flowers are similar to those of St. John's wort, which also has golden yellow flowers, but the flowers of celandine consist of only four petals and many stamens.
Don't cut off the flowers right away
It is not without reason that celandine grows preferentially in the following locations:
- south-facing forest edges
- wall cracks
- near ant colonies
This is because the pod-shaped seed pods contain black seed bodies with nutrient-rich appendages inside. These serve as food for the ants in their burrow before the remaining seeds are removed from the ant burrow. So if you allow seed formation after the flowering period, you encourage ants in your garden and at the same time encourage the celandine to self-seed.
tips
Celandine is a traditional medicinal plant in naturopathy. However, celandine can also be toxic, which is why you should be extremely careful when using it and not without professional advice.