Pollinator plant

Lesser celandine

Ranunculus ficaria

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Common names

6 names · 2 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Dusky Maiden[1]
  • Fig Buttercup[1]
  • Lesser celandine[1]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Lesser Crowfoot[1]
  • Pilewort[1]
Other languages (1)
Dutch
  • Speenkruid
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Ranunculus ficaria — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Lesser Celandine — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Ranunculus ficaria.
  • Dusky Maiden — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Ranunculus ficaria.
  • Fig Buttercup — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Ranunculus ficaria.
  • Lesser Crowfoot — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Ranunculus ficaria.
  • Pilewort — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Ranunculus ficaria.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Catalogue of Life treats Ranunculus ficaria as a synonym of Ficaria verna subsp. verna.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family
Ranunculaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Creeping; Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [3]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [3]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [3]
Light
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [3]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [3]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [3]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [3]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [3]
Native range
Canary Is., Europe to Medit. and Kazakhstan.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Plant profile

About this plant

Lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from March to May.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Ranunculus ficaria — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1113333; ID 4RGBC; rank species; status synonym

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Ficaria verna subsp. verna — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1553844; ID 5HCMC; rank subspecies; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1553844; ID 5HCMC; rank subspecies; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  3. NC State Extension Ranunculus ficaria — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Plant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Ranunculus ficaria — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 264052; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1012506, 1012507, 1012509, 1012511, 1012512, 1012513, 1012514, 1012515, 1012516, 1012517, 1012518, 1012519, 1012520, 1012521, 1012522, 1012523, 1012524, 1012525, 1012526, 1012527, 1012528, 1012529, 1012530, 1012531, 1012532, 1012533, 1012534, 1012535, 1012536, 1012537, 1012538, 1012539, 1012540, 1012541, 1012542, 1012543, 1012544, 1012545, 1012546, 1012547, 1012548, 1012549, 1012550, 1012551, 1012552, 1012553, 1012554, 1012555, 1012556, 1012557, 1012558

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.