Prioritizing Control of Lesser Celandine (Ficaria Verna) in deciduous Forests in Indianapolis, IN

Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) is an aggressive ephemeral perennial native to Europe and western Asia that invades floodplains and mesic forests. It has been recorded to escape from cultivation throughout the eastern deciduous forest and has become abundant in many riparian areas in the Mid Atlantic, Great Lakes, and Ohio Valley. It emerges earlier than most native vernal flora and forms a dense mat that replaces the less aggressive native spring ephemeral community. Control efforts on floodplains are often unsuccessful due to floodwater transport of upstream propagules. Eco Logic LLC, a local ecological restoration firm, worked with Indy Land Stewardship to set up a treatment and monitoring program to develop an effective strategy for confining the lesser celandine to the low floodplain terraces to prevent it from invading the adjacent uplands.

In a nutshell, this resource offers:

• A methodology for the elimination of an invasive spring ephemeral. 
• A monitoring program to evaluate the success of management efforts. 

How to use this resource:

• As a specific guide for managing Lesser celandine (Ficaria Verna)
• As a general principle of containment for invasive species. 
• As an example of management and monitoring in an urban context. 

Author: Kevin Tugesvick and Spencer A. Goehl, Eco Logic LLC and Donald R. Miller, Indianapolis Department of Public Works

Date published: 2024

Point of contact: Kevin Tungesvick kevin@ecologicindiana.com

Citation: Tungesvick, Kevin; Goehl, Spencer A.; and Miller, Donald R. (2024) "Prioritizing Control of Lesser Celandine (Ficaria Verna) in Deciduous Forests in Indianapolis, IN," Cities and the Environment (CATE): Vol. 13: Iss. 1, Article 40. DOI: 10.15365/cate.2020.130140

Resource is available online here.