flowers about an inch to an inch and a half across. The entire plant is quite shiny and succulent. The hollow stem helps keep the plant afloat. Caltha is important ecologically, providing protection for many small aquatic creatures and assisting in water clarifying by absorbing nutrients and trapping silt.

Despite its common name, the Marsh Marigold is in the Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) and not related to Marigolds.

Marsh Marigold is one of the earliest blooming spring ephemerals in a wetland. Its heart shaped foliage emerges in March and almost over night is topped with bright yellow butter cup like flowers which last thru May. Marsh Marigolds will hold it’s foliage thru mid summer if provided a cool shady niche in a water garden; otherwise it will naturally go summer dormant by the end of June. Found naturally along slow streams and wooded wetlands.

Bloom Color