First Bloom of Spring

[Trithor]

Angela asks,
I have no idea what this plant is...some kind of ground cover, I think. I'd like to know if
anyone on ST can identify it. I love it because it's lovely and blooms so early in spring.

 

[Linus_Cello]

Winter aconite relative?

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a446

Are those the leaves to the flower, or something else?

 

[abax]

Linus, that's leaves and the flower just beginning to bloom.
The flower has a shiny texture and no smell that I can detect. We've been calling it the Celia Flower to recall the
date of my husband's mother passing away. When the whole bed begins to bloom, I figure I've lived through
most of winter. It's not Aconite and it's not Butterwort.

It may be a "weed" as I found it growing wild in the woods and lifted
up a very small patch to replant. It's now several feet long and wide
and grows equally well in sun or shade. I've looked through several
books on wildflowers and can find nothing like it.

Thank you so much, Gary. I hope someone recognizes the plant.

 

[bcostello]

Looks like it's related to lesser celandine

 

[cnycharles]

Following the above lead, looks like a double flowered l celandine and is considered to be very vigorous and invasive, taking over areas ephemeral spring wildflowers inhabit

 

[Rick]

Looks like it's related to lesser celandine

This seems to be a good match bcostello:wink:

With this nasty cold winter, I've been looking for local signs of spring. The snow drops and crocus (not from around here anyway) even got smashed by the cold.

But our patch of Bluebells just started popping up!!!

They are always the best harbinger of Spring at my home

 

[abax]

Found the id in my Audubon Field Guide. It is in the family of
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup family). Common names are
Marsh Marigold; Cowslip. Latin name is Caltha palustris.

The shiny sepals did remind me of Buttercups, but I apparently overlooked it in my books on Wildflowers of
KY. Rick, if you'd like a small patch for your spring garden, I have
plenty and it speads quickly and well. It also stays green all winter.
Niiiice little plant. Definitely the first harbinger of spring here.

Mystery solved! Yaaay!

 

[Secundino]

Ranunculus ficaria, not Caltha palustris, in my opinion. Lesser Celandine, as bcostello wrote.

 

[abax]

Secun, I can't find ficaria in my books. I do have several
stands of Celadine poppy, but there's no resemblance at
all in either leaves, growing habit or flowers. Are you sure
ficaria is native to KY?

More mystery...I thought I had it all figured out. ;>)

Just looked up ficaria and I believe you're right Secun and bcostello.
However, I don't see it as invasive...it just needs room to grow and
is a great ground cover.

 

[Secundino]

It is not a native american plant, so if your book only covers the native ones it wouldn't be described.
Given the right conditions it is invasive. Some people - me - are very sensitive to the leaves of some Ranunculaceae, so if it spreads in the lawn (a wet lawn) and I laid down there in summer, months after flowering and with no apparent signs of this little cutie any more, I would be covered inmediately with raspberry red, fine dots everywhere! Once established it is very difficult to erradicate.
But I loved the flowers!

 

[SlipperFan]

Ah, Spring!

 

[abax]

Just what I said when I spotted the buds opening! I also
have some of the very small daffs blooming as well. Can't
wait for the main show. We have hundreds and hundreds
of named daffodils in bud.

 

[cnycharles]

We have caltha palustris seedling plug trays in flower in one of the greenhouses at work, don't think it's that, will look tomorrow. Leaves are very smooth and shiny

 

[abax]

Charles, I'd love to see a photo if you have the time and
opportunity.

 

[cnycharles]

Sure. I looked this morning at work and your flower really doesn't look like cowslips (at least not the variety we have). Leaves are very smooth and maybe larger, and there are fewer petals