Chelidonium majus

RHS Plant Profile
greater celandine

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Chelidonium majus?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
greater celandine RHS

Other common names

celandine poppy, cockfoot, cock's foot, kenningwort, sightwort, swallow wort, tetterwort, wartwort, dilwydd

Herbaceous Perennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
5 Suppliers

A sparsely hairy, somewhat spreading plant to 90cm, with broadly-lobed pinnately-divided leaves, and yellow flowers in spring and summer. Self-seeds and naturalises freely

Position

Full shade, Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Papaveraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Potentially harmful
Humans/Pets: Harmful if eatenskin/eye irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus
Chelidonium are erect biennials or short-lived perennials with copious orange sap; leaves are pinnately dissected and poppy-like flowers are borne in loose umbels in summer
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Europe, W Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grows easily in most soils in any position, but woodland-edge conditions are ideal. Here it can make useful ground cover, providing food and shelter for a range of invertebrates. See greater celandine for more information

Propagation

Propagate by seed by sowing in situ in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildflower meadow
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Ground cover

Pruning

No pruning required, but may need deadheading to reduce prolific self-seeding. Wear gloves and protect skin to avoid contact with the sap

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free