Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold)

Awakening the pond in spring, Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold) is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial prized for its clusters of brilliant yellow flowers, up to 2 in. (5 cm), resembling buttercups. Blooming from mid-spring to early summer, they open over the succulent heart or kidney-shaped, rich green leaves, which tend to get smaller as they progress up the stem. The blossoms give way to seed pods that split open when ripe to disperse the seeds. This harbinger of spring is one of the first marginal to bloom. The flower buds may be cooked and pickled in vinegar as a caper substitute. The leaves are sometimes used as potherbs but require several short boilings to remove the poisonous elements. They should not be eaten raw.

• Grows up to 12-18 in. tall and wide (30-45 cm)
• Performs best in full sun to part shade in shallow water at the margins of a pond or water garden or in wet, boggy soils. Can grow in shallow water up to 4-5 in. deep (10-12 cm). Best flower production occurs in full sun, but this plant appreciates some afternoon shade in summer.
• Low maintenance, this perennial plant is generally pest free. Keep an eye out for powdery mildews. Deer resistant.
• Propagate by seed sown as soon as ripe or by division in late summer or early spring.
• Divide root clumps before the flowers appear or when plants are dormant in summer.
• Native to the northern temperate regions.