Papaveraceae
Greater celandine: Medicinal Uses & Care Tips
Chelidonium majus
An undemanding plant that thrives in partial shade and moist, nitrogen-rich soil. It requires minimal maintenance other than controlling its spread.
Every 4 days
Partial shade
-20° - 35°C
40% - 90%
Categories
What is Greater celandine?
Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) is a easy-care plant from the Papaveraceae family. Greater celandine is a perennial herb from the poppy family, known for its orange latex. It has lobed leaves and bright yellow flowers with four petals. It commonly grows near human settlements, along fences, and in forests.
Greater celandine grows up to 80cm, spread of 50cm, watering every 4 days, -20°C â 35°C, 40â90% humidity. It is not suitable for indoor environments and not safe for pets.
Unlike many tropical plants, Greater celandine tolerates watering mistakes. Best for beginners. Without precautions, ingestion can cause irritation in pets. Keep out of reach of cats and dogs.
How to Care for Greater celandine?
TLDR: Greater celandine needs Partial shade, watering every 4 days, and temperatures between -20-35°C with 40-90% humidity.
How Often Should You Water Greater celandine?
Keep the soil evenly moist, but avoid prolonged waterlogging.
How Much Light Does Greater celandine Need?
Prefers partial shade but can grow in direct sunlight if it has sufficient moisture.
What Is the Best Soil for Greater celandine?
Favors humus-rich, nitrogenous soils with good moisture retention capacity.
What Pot Should You Use for Greater celandine?
It grows best in open ground; in a pot, it requires a deep container due to its taproot.
Care Schedule
Fertilize
Every 60 days
What Is Greater celandine and Where Does It Come From?
Greater celandine is a perennial herb from the poppy family, known for its orange latex. It has lobed leaves and bright yellow flowers with four petals. It commonly grows near human settlements, along fences, and in forests.
How to Propagate Greater celandine?
Seed sowing
- Seeds are often dispersed by ants, so the plant spreads spontaneously in the garden.
- 1 Seed collection
Collect the black seeds from ripe pods in late summer.
- 2 Site preparation
Prepare loose, moist soil in a shady spot.
- 3 Sowing
Sow the seeds directly onto the soil surface and press down gently.
Materials needed:
Division of clumps
- Use gloves when handling, as the orange sap stains the skin and can cause irritation.
- 1 Digging up
Carefully dig up the entire plant along with the root ball.
- 2 Division
Divide the root system into several parts, each of which must have a growth point.
- 3 Planting
Plant immediately in the new location and water generously.
Materials needed:
How Big Does Greater celandine Grow?
TLDR: Greater celandine can reach up to 80cm tall with Fast growth rate.
Max height
80cm
Spread
50cm
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Deciduous
Warning: Toxic Plant
This plant can be toxic if ingested. Keep out of reach of:
Plant Uses
Medicinal
Medicinal properties
Ornamental
Great for decoration
Medicinal Uses
- Treatment of warts
- Support of liver and gallbladder function
- Antibacterial effects
Is your plant showing symptoms?
Click on the symptom to discover possible causes:
Meaning & Symbolism
In folklore, it was believed that swallows used it to heal the eyes of their young, which is where its name originates.
Compare with similar plants
| Attribute | Difficulty | Light | Watering | Pet Safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field Maple | Easy | Bright indirect | 14d | â |
| Silver Birch | Easy | Direct sun | 14d | â |
| Common Blanketflower | Easy | Direct sun | 10d | â |
| Cushion Bush | Easy | Direct sun | 14d | â |
