Marsh Marigold

Caltha palustris

Family Ranunculaceae

Brief Description: This low growing poisonous herb has 5-9 sepals and no petals. Flowers are bright yellow; 0.75-1.5 inches wide and resemble large buttercups or stars. Leaves are big and broad, somewhat round to heart shaped.

Blooms from April to June.

Geographic Range: Circumboreal, south to Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa and in the mountains to North Carolina and Tennessee.

Habitat: Wet woods and meadows, swamps, bogs, and shallow water

Garden Use: Only for very moist gardens.

Historic Uses: Mythically, Marsh Marigold results in butter being so yellow in the spring because cows eat so much of the plant while grazing. Young leaves can be boiled and eaten as a green; flower buds may be used as capers after boiling and pickling in vinegar. Do not eat raw because this plant is poisonous unless boiled.