2018 Plant of the Year, Special Recognition

Proposed by: a member of Saint Paul Garden Club, Zone XI

Caltha palustris is a special spring ephemeral plant commonly known as marsh marigold.  This charming yellow plant produces both nectar and copious amounts of pollen which attract pollinating insects including flies, bees and butterflies. The seeds provide food for small wildlife and ducks. Caltha palustris grows in shade to sun, in wet and marshy areas, and along edges of streams, wetlands and rock crevices where it provides natural erosion control. For home use, it is well suited for rain gardens, water's edge and ephemeral ponds. Hardy in USDA Zone 2 to 7, it is one of the first to bloom and is often called "a harbinger of spring." Special Recognition was awarded to raise awareness that Caltha palustris needs promoting, planting and protecting.  An invasive plant, Ficaria verna, commonly known as lesser celandine, is a weedy, tuberous rooted, perennial that is also yellow, grows in wetlands and blooms in spring.  Native to Europe and eastern Asia, it is now naturalized in 19 states and can form large colonies covering several acres of wetland.  This aggressive growth displaces less vigorous native spring ephemerals.  If they grow side by side, the marsh marigold will lose. Caltha palustris is the better option for our native American gardens.