Minnesota Wildflowers


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Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold)

Plant Info
Also known as:
Genus:Caltha
Family:Ranunculaceae (Buttercup)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Habitat:part shade, sun; swamps, along shores
Bloom season:April - May
Plant height:8 to 24 inches
USDA PLANTS database:Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:

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Detailed Information

Flower: 5-petals

[photo of flower] Flowers are bright yellow, 1 to 1½ inches across with 5 to 9 rounded petal-like sepals. In the center is a ring of numerous yellow stamens. One plant may have several flowers.

Leaves: basal simple

[photo of leaves] Leaves are round, like lily pads, most with scalloped edges, up to 4 inches in diameter on 2 to 6-inch stems surrounding the base of the plant. There may be leaves alternately attached in the upper part of the plant.

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Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

All photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN May 2007

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Debra M.
on: 2009-03-22 17:49:06

Back in the sixties, we used to look for the marsh marigold, we called them cowslips, just after the snow had begun to melt. It was a quest that we went on every spring to see who would spot one first. We lived in Isanti County on rural route 3

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2009-03-23 12:01:38

We did the same when I was a kid, except our search was for trilliums. :-)

Posted by: Wes G
on: 2009-04-30 19:41:29

We have two growing in our backyard down by the Mississippi river. We spotted them about two weeks ago. One is very large, about two feet across, and the other is about six inches across. We live in Big Lake Township in Sherburne County.

Posted by: Scott K
on: 2009-05-04 09:32:01

We were working a trail through the back of our property and my wife noticed them first. There are dozens of these plants flowering - we're spotting them all over (along with dozens of fiddleheads). We didn't know what they were, but I found them on this site! Very Cool! We are in far Northeast Anoka County.

Posted by: Paul F.
on: 2009-05-07 20:23:28

Saw a nice patch of these in full bloom today. I was in Dodge Nature Center, West St.Paul.

Posted by: Betty M
on: 2009-06-14 19:34:11

I saw alot of these blooming this weekend along the Arrowhead Trail in the far NE corner of the state. I'd love to get some of these established along the roadcut through my property up there.

Posted by: Rochelle in Beltrami County, Bemidji MN
on: 2010-05-17 11:35:58

Lovely bunches are scattered though out the marsh areas near the Boat landing end of Birchmont Dr NE. They are currently in full bloom.

Posted by: Mark in Oakdale Nature Preserve, Oakdale MN
on: 2010-06-19 17:01:17

Scattered throughout the watery areas of the big swamp in the Oakdale Nature Preserve, May 2010.

Posted by: Sharon in Grand Portage State Park
on: 2010-07-25 13:08:56

We saw these in May on the trail to the High Falls in Grand Portage State Park. I am so pleased and excited to find this site. We live full time in a motorhome. We always check out the wildflowers wherever we are. How great to be to identify what we have seen and photographed!

Posted by: Amy in Cannon Falls, MN
on: 2010-09-09 17:42:46

I grew up in northern St. Louis County and loved seeing these flowers cover the entire forest floor every spring. The smell as you passed by was heavenly.

Posted by: david in Bloomington
on: 2011-02-09 15:26:13

I have several of these lovely plants in my pond.they are so beautiful but only bloom for a short time,however the leaves are quite large and nice in themselves.bloom very early,sometimes even though the ground is still frozen

Posted by: Aaron in Red Lake Falls
on: 2011-05-08 21:40:30

Saw two or three bright yellow clumps in the ditch almost floating. Hwy 32 south of Red Lake Falls

Posted by: Bre in Duluth
on: 2011-05-11 02:17:41

My roommate and I were on a walk, and we found them near some standing water on the UMD campus. Lots of them!

Posted by: Alan in Warroad
on: 2011-05-19 13:36:42

Found some in my front yard in the ditch: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150259481256337&set=a.10150259480891337.363084.703206336&type=1&theater

Posted by: Gena in Palisade, MN - Long Lake Conservation Center
on: 2011-05-24 23:32:13

Saw several in bloom near the bog.

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