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     Native British 

Lesser Celandine Bulbils 

Latin:  Ranunculus ficaria

Distribution:  Native perennial of woods and shady places throughout Britain.
Habitat:  Native perennial of woods and shady places preferring damp conditions.
Description:  A small perennial growing up to 15cm.  The leaves are heart-shaped and on long stalks.  The foliage dies back during the summer and reappears during the winter.  The yellow star-like flowers are one of the earliest of our wild flowers to appear - from March to May.  The flower closes up in dull weather.  
Uses:  Culpepper writes in the seventeenth century that Lesser Celandine was also known as Pilewort on account of it's use in curing haemorrhoids! He also claimed it cured his own daughter of the so-called 'king's evil' or scrofula.

Planting Instructions for 'In the Green' Bulbs:  The bulbs should be planted as soon as you receive them.  They are best planted where they can be left undisturbed.  If the earth is frozen solid, then you’ll need to wait until it is crumbly again.  If you do need to wait for a couple of days, sink the bulbs in some damp compost in a sheltered place until the soil is crumbly again. Choose a site which will remain damp during the summer as if the soil does dry out, the plant may not have sufficient moisture to build up the bulbils for flowering the following year.

Plant the bulbs as soon as received.

These bulbs were grown in Britain from cultivated stock.