Sumpfdotterblume

A plant of the waterside, it prefers growing in a sunny position in wet soils or shallow water up to 15cm deep, though it will tolerate drier conditions if there is shade from the summer sun. Another report says that it grows best in partial shade. Requires a deep rich slightly alkaline soil. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a chalky soil. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.8 to 7.5. A very ornamental and polymorphic plant, there are some named varieties. Plants often self-sow when well sited. A good bee plant. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes. This species is probably the most primitive flower in the British flora.

Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves Root Edible Uses: Root - must be well cooked. The raw root should not be eaten[K]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Flower buds - raw, cooked or pickled and used as a caper substitute. Eating the raw flower buds can lead to intoxication. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Young leaves - raw or cooked. The leaves are harvested in the spring as the plant is coming into flower and is used like spinach after cooking in two or more changes of water. Eating the raw leaves can lead to intoxication. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Older leaves, before the plant flowers, can be eaten if they are well cooked. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Dye A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[, a saffron substitute. It is used as a dye when mixed with alum, though it is not very permanent. Plants can be grown for ground cover when planted about 45cm apart each way.

Heimisch: Afghanistan, Alaska, Albania, Alberta, Aleutian Is., Altay, Amur, Askim, Assam, Aurland, Austria, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Central European Russia, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Chita, Connecticut, Czechia-Slovakia, Delaware, Denmark, East European Russia, East Himalaya, Eidskog, Finland, France, Føroyar, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Grue, Hemne, Hungary, Iceland, Illinois, Indiana, Inner Mongolia, Iowa, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy, Japan, Kamchatka, Kazakhstan, Kentucky, Khabarovsk, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Kuril Is., Kveiteseid, Labrador, Magadan, Maine, Manchuria, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mongolia, Myanmar, NW. Balkan Pen., Nebraska, Nepal, Netherlands, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Newfoundland, Norddal, North Carolina, North Caucasus, North Dakota, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Northwest Territories, Norway, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ohio, Randesund, Romedal, Skåtøy, Sør Odal, Trysil, Ytre Sandsvær