City of Lake Forest, IL

Our woodlands and wildflowers are under attack by the insidious lesser celandine, also known as the fig buttercup. This invasive, spring ephemeral spreads rapidly and outcompetes native spring ephemerals like bloodroot, wild ginger, and spring beauty.

Now is the time to fight back. Just look for this invader’s showy, yellow flowers in moist, wooded habitat, including ravines. Because it tends to grow in dense mats, the best and most efficient way to destroy this invasive is through broadleaf chemical control.

For help identifying and eliminating the fig buttercup, please feel free to reach out to the City of Lake Forest Forestry Section for a property walk/consultation or for a list of professional landscape companies.

We are here to help and look forward to working with you as we retake our woodlands from this invasive plant.