In April it sprouts everywhere and is often already in flower: the lesser celandine is one of the first edible wild herbs of the year. But even if it seems harmless at first glance, consumption can quickly become problematic, especially if the plant is already flowering. You can find out here what you need to know during the retreat.
How do you recognize celandine?
Celandine belongs to the buttercup family and prefers humid and nutrient-rich places. They are usually found in meadows, under bushes or at the edges of the forest. The leaves of the celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) are shiny, heart-shaped and light green in color. The edge of the leaf is slightly toothed. They are mainly found under bushes and in partially shaded places in the garden, in bushes or in the woods. The small, shiny leaves are somewhat reminiscent of purslane, but are slightly rounder and sit close to the ground. Lesser celandine can be confused with the similar-looking young leaves of celandine Gundermann or that Garlic mustard. It is biennial and in the first year the small leaves are somewhat similar to Lesserwort and Gundermann. Both plants are also edible
How is celandine used?
It was once highly prized as a wild herb because it was one of the first wild herbs to provide revitalizing micronutrients and vitamins after the long winter. It is particularly rich in vitamin C. In the past it was used to purify the blood. Because of the high Vitamin C Hence the name of the wild herb. It was used against the disease scurvy, which was then called “scargot”. Today scurvy is no longer a problem and the lesser herb is only recommended fresh in small quantities because it may contain protoanemonin. For this reason you should only harvest it before flowering. You should not use flowers and buds at all. Too much can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps or nausea. If you keep in mind that celandine leaves can only be harvested when they are very young, small quantities of leaves are harmless. However, you should not consume other parts of the plant. This wild herb shows how important it is to know the right time for harvesting.
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Never cut chive flowers in June – almost no one knows about their hidden effects!Wild herbs in spring: our book tells you what you can harvest
You already know our book”With wild herbs and medicinal plants all year round“(available here)? In it we present the most important local wild herbs of the year and of course the extensive chapter on spring also includes celandine. With autographed garden and nature photos we clearly show you which herbs you can find in your local nature. In the book we have only listed wild herbs and medicinal plants that you can actually find, not exotic ones. For each plant there are recommendations for use in the medicine cabinet and witch’s kitchen.
In order not to lose track of the plants that can currently be collected, our Seasonal calendar of wild herbs (available here) perfect for you. We have developed it too and would like to offer you an overview so that you can always see which herb can be harvested in which month. You can also buy it in our online store.
Use in the kitchen
Today, scurvy is no longer a problem, but fresh wild herbs are very good for us, especially in spring. That’s why you can add a few leaves to a delicious wild herb salad or smoothie. You can combine it excellently with very young things, for example Dandelionwhich also provides important bitter substances, i.e. the first buds of the Nettle. These are all very old wild herbs, easy to find and clearly identifiable. The leaves are taken, washed carefully and mixed with others wild herbs. Then salad is an excellent alternative to combat spring tiredness, for example.
Minor herb in naturopathy
Today celandine has little significance in natural medicine. Occasionally you can find recommendations for spring fatigue or as a sitz bath for hemorrhoids. However, celandine is still very popular as an edible wild herb that heralds the arrival of spring.
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Often, but not always, you can see a black spot in the center of the leaf. This is a feature of celandine
Inspirations for spring
You can find many culinary and naturopathic recipes, plant portraits and inspiration on the world of wild herbs and medicinal plants in our Magazine of the Cantina delle Erbe (available here). In the latest spring edition you will find, among other things, a broad overview of the most important local wild herbs and spring medicinal plants. There are also articles on the medicinal plant of 2025, a broad overview of edible ones Clover species and a report on the mysterious symbiosis between Clary sage and the carpenter bee and many other exciting reports from the world of wild herbs in spring.
Poisonous after flowering!
But be careful: as soon as the celandine blooms, that is, as soon as the yellow flowers are visible, you should no longer harvest or consume it. Celandine becomes inedible. The glycoside content therefore increases. The leaves and flowers also tend to taste bitter and can cause stomach upset because they produce a toxic substance called protoanemonin. Therefore, remember: until the celandine blooms, you can eat it, but then no mor
Explain nature to children
It is important to pass on herbal knowledge to the next generation. For this reason we have created a discovery book for children entitled «Ben and Mara discover the world of wild herbs“(available here) written. Inside you will find illustrated drawings of daily life with the grandparents of the two protagonists, who teach children about herbs and nature. Furthermore, simple wild herbs that are difficult to confuse are explained and there is also a recipe section with healthy, child-friendly recipes. The book is available individually or in format Explorer set can be found in our Herbal Witch online store.
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