Flower profile

Lesser celandine

Ficaria verna

Introduced in the lower 48

Lesser celandine is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 14 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–April.

22states

14of our state lists

55,826U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia

🚫

Regulated invasive plant in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Delaware. It's on those states' official invasive plant lists (New York: Prohibited invasive species (6 NYCRR § 575.3); Pennsylvania: Class B noxious weed; Maryland: Prohibited invasive plant (some phase-outs run to 2028); Ohio: Invasive plant (sale and propagation prohibited); Virginia: Tier 3 noxious weed (sale and movement restricted); Illinois: Exotic weed (sale and planting prohibited); Massachusetts: Prohibited plant (sale, import and propagation banned); Connecticut: Prohibited invasive plant (some listings take effect on later dates; see the statute) (as Ranunculus ficaria); Delaware: Invasive Plant List (sale and propagation prohibited)). Please don't plant or share it there. ^{6 NYCRR Part 575 PA noxious weed list MD prohibited invasive list OAC 901:5-30-01 2VAC5-317-20 17 IAC 1100.30 MA Prohibited Plant List CGS § 22a-381d 3 DE Admin. Code 806}

Quick look

Ficaria verna, commonly known as lesser celandine or pilewort, is a low-growing, hairless perennial flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It has fleshy dark green, heart-shaped leaves and distinctive flowers with bright yellow, glossy petals. Native to Europe and Western Asia, it is now introduced in North America, where it is known by the common name fig buttercup and considered an invasive species.
From Wikipedia's article Ficaria verna, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 22 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
In New York, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. ^iNaturalist
In Pennsylvania, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–April. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 11,086 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #7 among the 109 flowers on our New York list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 7,177 research-grade sightings of it in Pennsylvania, ranking #13 among the 111 flowers on our Pennsylvania list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 5,240 research-grade sightings of it in Maryland, ranking #14 among the 110 flowers on our Maryland list. ^iNaturalist

State flower gift ideas

This one is a regulated invasive plant, so here are state flower gifts instead.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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State flower print
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Birth-flower necklace
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Wildflower seed favors
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Botanical tea towel
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Pressed-flower frame
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Flower-garden mug
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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (16,684 records)

Bloom time in each of our 14 states

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
New York	Introduced	March–May	11,086
Pennsylvania	Introduced	March–April	7,177
Maryland	Introduced	March–April	5,240
Ohio	Introduced	March–April	5,152
North Carolina	–	February–April	4,110
New Jersey	Introduced	March–April	4,013
Virginia	Introduced	March–April	3,895
Illinois	Introduced	March–May	2,583
Massachusetts	Introduced	March–May	2,406
Indiana	Introduced	March–April	1,015
Connecticut	Introduced	March–May	859
Kentucky	Introduced	March–April	665
Delaware	Introduced	March–April	550
Rhode Island	Introduced	March–April	277

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
New York: Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New York. ^{6 NYCRR § 193.3}
Pennsylvania: Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Pennsylvania. ^{17 Pa. Code Ch. 45}
Maryland: Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Maryland. ^{COMAR 08.03.08}
Ohio: Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Ohio. ^{OAC 1501:18-1-03}
North Carolina: Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe has no North Carolina rank for it. ^{02 NCAC 48F .0301}
New Jersey: Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New Jersey. ^{N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1}
Virginia: Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Virginia. ^2VAC5-320-10
Illinois: Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Illinois. ^{IL E&T checklist 2025}
Massachusetts: Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Massachusetts. ^{MESA list}
Indiana: No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Indiana.
Connecticut: Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Connecticut. ^{CT E/T/SC list}
Kentucky: Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Kentucky. ^{400 KAR 3:040}
Delaware: Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Delaware. ^{DE rare plants 2024}
Rhode Island: Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Rhode Island. ^{RI rare plants 2016}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: leaves, roots, sap/juice, stems. Symptoms they list: “Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, oral ulcers and wobbly gait.” ^{NC State Extension}

For petsCan be a problem for cats, dogs and horses

NC State Extension flags it as a problem for cats, dogs and horses. It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. ^{NC State Extension}

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records lesser celandine in 22 states plus Washington, D.C.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

New York counties with USDA records: Bronx, Cayuga, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Suffolk, Tompkins, Ulster, Westchester.

Pennsylvania counties with USDA records: Allegheny, Blair, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Greene, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Philadelphia.