Grow Wild to Know Wild
Marsh-marigold (Caltha palustris)

Flowers: March to June
Preferred site: sunny

©Joe Sutton

Description: this stout plant has bright yellow flowers (15-50mm across) with 5 petal-like sepals and many yellow stamens. The shiny, dark green leaves are large and kidney-shaped.

UK distribution: widespread throughout Britain.

Habitats in the wild: a plant of wet meadows, marshes and wet woodlands, growing well in shade.

Conservation status and threats: a common native species, whose distribution remains relatively stable in Britain. Locally threatened by drainage and agricultural improvement of its wet grassland habitat.

Reasons for any losses in the wild : loss of habitat through drainage and abandonment

Folklore/medicinal uses : Marsh-marigold is also known as Kingcup, Mayflower, May-blobs and Water-bubbles. The name Mayflower comes from the custom (which is still practised in the Isle of Man) of bringing the flowers into the house and strewing them on doorsteps on Old May Eve (Flora Britannica by Richard Mabey).

Marsh-marigold has been used to remove warts and is also used in the treatment of fits and anaemia. A decoction is used in the treatment of colds and a tea made from the leaves is a diuretic and laxative (Plants for a future).

Position in garden : an easy and attractive plant for a fertile, moist soil in semi-shade or full sun. The Marsh Marigold does especially well in boggy ground near a garden pond, or as a marginal in very shallow water at the water's edge.

How to plant and when: plant young potted plants in spring or summer and ensure that they are well watered during the establishment phase.

Propagation: the Marsh-marigold can be propagated by sowing fresh seed on a good quality seed compost as soon as the seed is ripe (in early summer). However, the plant is most easily propagated by division in spring, removing some of the larger leaves to reduce water loss through transpiration.

Varieties available: the variety 'Flore Pleno' has lovely double yellow flowers with greeny-yellow centres. Caltha palustris var. alba is more compact and has single white flowers.

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