Caltha palustris
A showy wetland wildflower with shiny yellow blooms similar to those of a buttercup
Caltha palustris yellow marsh marigold


Marsh marigold is an erect, glabrous, semisucculent perennial herb with clusters of showy, shiny buttercup-like flowers. As the name 'marsh marigold' suggests, this plant inhabits a variety of wetlands such as marshes, swamps and damp woods. The plant can grow up to 2.5 feet tall, although average height is around 20-25 inches.
The leaves of this plant are dark green, glossy, heart or kidney shaped with small teeth or no teeth around the margins. Most of the leaves are basal on long petioles. Cauline(stem) leaves are alternate on shorter petioles. The stems are thick, hollow, and branching.
Flowers are visited by flies, ants and bees for pollen and nectar. Syrphid hoverflies are the primary pollinators of marsh marigold flowers.
Habitat & Range
Common in wet open woods and meadows, marshes, swamps, and bogs. Prefers full sun to light shade.
Present throughout the state.
Range: Newfoundland to Alaska, and south to Nebraska, Tenesse and North Carolina.
EMP: | OBL |
---|---|
NCNE: | OBL |
Phenology
Flowers April through early July.
Characteristics
Flowers rise above leaves; 2 to 5 per stem on naked stalks; bright, shiny yellow with 5 petal-like sepals and highly visible veins radiating from the base. Ring of many yellow stamens in the center.
Basal leaves rounded or cordate, entire or crenate; petioles up to 20 cm.
Cauline leaves alternate, with shorter petioles , otherwise similar to basal, reducing upward.
Stems hollow, thick, branching
Fruits divergent follicles, up to 14 mm long, short-beaked. The follicle is initially green and erect, spreading out with age and turning light green-brown, releases many seeds.
Height 10 to 30 inches
Similar Species
is weedy and invasive
has 3 sepals and up to 12 petals while C. palustris has 5 to 9 petal-like sepals
plant is noticeably smaller than that of C. palustris
has single flower per stem, C. palustris has a cluster of flowers per base stem
fruit is an achene while C. palustris' fruit is a follicle
Plant Codes
S-rank: S5 (Secure)
G-rank: G5 (Secure)
Medicinal Qualities
In folk medicine, the caustic juice of the plant was used to ease rheumatic pain and irritate warts away.
Faunal Associations
Wood ducks and other game birds feed on the seeds, although it is not their primary food source. The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract flies, ants and bees such as syrphid flies and honey bees. Some leaf beetles eat the plant's leaves.