Caltha palustris

Sizes available: Landscape plug

Basics: Zone 3-7, 12-18" x 12-18", full sun to part shade, yellow bloom in early spring, prefers moist, somewhat acidic, fertile soils or oxygen-rich water

Common names: Swamp Marigold, Marsh Marigold, Kingcup (also see below for more!)

Family: Ranunculaceae

Origin/Distribution: This plant appears in the temperate northern hemisphere in numerous closely associated variations. It is native to the northeastern U.S. including Maine.

Habitat: wet edges, wet open woods, wet meadows, swamps, bogs, marshes, fens, wet ditches, in between reeds at lake and river edge. Found in Black Alder coppices and regularly-flooded, always moist places. 

More: Caltha palustris contains nectar and lots of pollen and is an excellent food source for numerous insects early in the season. It can also be rain-pollinated and the seeds rain-dispersed and/or distributed by floating on moving water. It is a joy to see the bright yellow flowers after a long winter. The young leaves and buds are edible cooked, with a couple of water-changes. A more promising experience might be cooking and pickling the buds for a garnish. There is potential for contact dermatitis and the plant is toxic eaten raw.

Even more: This plant is mentioned in numerous poems and works of fiction (see the lengthy Wikipedia entry for more). In the U.K. Caltha palustris has many names: Bassinets, Crazy Beth, Horse Blob, Molly-blob, May Blob, Boots, Water Boots, Meadow-bright, Bullflower, Meadow Buttercup, Water Buttercup, Soldier's Buttons, Meadow or Water Cowslip, Publican's Cloak or Publicans-and-Sinners, Crowfoot, Water Dragon, Drunkards, Water Goggles, Meadow, Water or Yellow Gowan, Goldes, Golds, Goldings, Gools, Cowlily, Marybuds. 

Photo credits: Frank Meuschke of Shelterwood Gardens; also Wikimedia Commons