Growing Water Loving Caltha aka Marsh Marigolds
Pond life can be enhanced with Marsh Marigolds also known as Kingcup, Mayflower, May-blobs, Water-bubbles and botanically as Caltha palustris. It grows well in wet meadows, marshes, stream sides and wet woodlands. The leaves are kidney shaped and a glossy, deep green.
Cultivation of Marsh Marigolds
It grows well in shade or partial sunshine and likes damp roots.
Marsh-marigold can be propagated by sowing fresh seed on a good quality seed compost.
Available in aquatic sections of garden centres or from wild seed merchants.
Propagated by division in spring, removing some of the larger leaves to reduce water loss through transpiration.
Ensure that plants are well watered during the establishment phase.
Varieties and Descriptions
Marsh Marigold has yellow petals or sepals and yellow stamens
Caltha palustris ‘Flore Pleno’ has double yellow flowers with greeny-yellow centres.
Caltha palustris alba is more compact and has single white flowers.
Other Marsh Marigold Facts and Tips
Marsh Marigold is an herbaceous perennial.
Flowers are up to 2″ across and look similar to buttercups to which they are related.
When raw the Marsh Marigold is poisonous but has been used for medicinal purposes such as the removal of warts to the treatment of fits and anaemia.
Flowers from April are cup-shaped and stand tall on long, hairless stems.
Other Species according to Wikipedia
* Caltha palustris (awarded the RHS’s Award of Garden Merit)
* Caltha palustris var. alba
* Caltha palustris var. barthei
* Caltha palustris ‘Flore Pleno’ (a double-flowered cultivar, awarded the RHS’s Award of Garden Merit)
* Caltha palustris var. himalensis
* Caltha palustris ‘Marilyn’
* Caltha palustris ‘Multiplex’ (double flowered)
* Caltha palustris var. palustris
* Caltha palustris var. palustris ‘Plena’ (double flowered)
* Caltha palustris subsp. polypetala
* Caltha palustris var. radicans
* Caltha palustris ‘Semiplena’ (double flowered)
* Caltha palustris Trotter’s form
* Caltha palustris ‘Yellow Giant’
4 thoughts on “Growing Water Loving Caltha aka Marsh Marigolds”
Pity I don’t have anywhere suitable to grow this Pretty little thing.
If you do not have a pond or marshy area, don’t give up on trying this nice plant. Use a pot holder without drainage holes and fill the bottom couple of inches with loose gravel or stones. Fill with potting compost and plant your marsh marigolds – allow one plant per square foot of soil area as they will multiply quite quickly if happy. Put the container in semi-shade or at the foot of a wall and then watch it grow and give you those lovely yellow blooms. You can pull soil around the container if you wish to hide all but the top.
If you find that it gets too wet too often and if you will see it getting waterlogged just punch a hole or two towards the bottom of the container and this will allow surplus water to drain without the plant ever drying out.
Hi,
I am a designer by profession but i keep vivid interest in gardening and farming.
I need to know more about farming marigold on a 4000 sq.mtrs. of plot with having maximum yield using a particular hybrid African variety of this flower.
Could you give me some useful tips for the above.
Regards
Arush
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