Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) is in the buttercup family family (Ranunculaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 16,642 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to April, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Lesser Celandine: observations by month (U.S.)
About Lesser Celandine
Ficaria verna, (formerly Ranunculus ficaria L.) commonly known as lesser celandine or pilewort, is a low-growing, hairless perennial flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae native to Europe and west Asia. It has fleshy dark green, heart-shaped leaves and distinctive flowers with bright yellow, glossy petals. It is now introduced in North America, where it is known by the common name fig buttercup and considered an invasive species. The plant is poisonous if ingested raw and...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Lesser Celandine by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 2,695 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Ohio | 2,192 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 2,025 | April | Mar–Apr |
| North Carolina | 1,408 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Maryland | 1,316 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Virginia | 1,162 | March | Mar–Apr |
| New Jersey | 992 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 894 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Oregon | 751 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Illinois | 460 | April | Apr–Apr |
| District of Columbia | 388 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Kentucky | 361 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Indiana | 336 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Connecticut | 280 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Michigan | 223 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Delaware | 222 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Washington | 141 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Tennessee | 122 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Rhode Island | 107 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Alabama | 92 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Missouri | 87 | April | Mar–Apr |
| West Virginia | 86 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Vermont | 75 | April | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 72 | March | Feb–Mar |
| Wisconsin | 43 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Oklahoma | 26 | March | Mar–Mar |
| South Carolina | 25 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Maine | 19 | May | Apr–May |
| Kansas | 11 | April | Mar–Apr |
| New Hampshire | 9 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Minnesota | 7 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Iowa | 6 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arkansas | 5 | March | Mar–Mar |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (buttercup family)
Red Columbine
Western Columbine
Rue Anemone
Marsh Marigold
Wood Anemone
Blue Columbine
Tenpetal Anemone
Prairie Pasqueflower
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Lesser Celandine?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to April.
Where is Lesser Celandine most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania.