Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)

Other Names

Cowflock
Cowslip
Kingcup

Habitat

Wildlife Value

Moose
Pollinating insects

Native?

Related Sites

Marsh Marigold | William O'Brien State Park | View Enlarged Image

A spring wildflower common to wetlands and damp forests, Marsh Marigold can be identified by its kidney-shaped leaves and erect 5-petaled yellow flowers. Its latin name Caltha is derived from the Latin word for cup or chalice, a description that fits its blooms quite well.

Marsh Marigold grows best in damp soil, and can tolerate standing water in the early spring, making makes them a popular candidate for water gardens or wetland cultivation. We found the biggest cache in William O'Brien State Park, where they can usually be found from April into May.

Some facts about the Marsh Marigold:

Native Americans used it as a cold remedy and a talisman against charms.
Marsh Marigold is not edible, and animals for the most part avoid it. The Settlers often got around this by boiling the plant.
The center of the Marsh Marigold has evolved to attract bees. It has While it may appear yellow to us humans, bees see it as black.

Multimedia:

There is no other media associated with this species.

Add to our growing wildlife encyclopedia! Submit a photo or other footage of this species!*

Want to Learn More?

In an effort to make our site as comprehensive as possible, we have supplemented our online park and wildlife survey with other educational resources. Every book we recommend has been hand-picked by a Beyond Main Street volunteer. 7.5% of all proceeds from the links below go to help Beyond Main Street build a larger, more comprehensive site!

	Wildflowers of Minnesota
	Trees of Minnesota

*Submissions are full and credited property of their original owner. The name of the sender will be printed below the submission unless otherwise requested. BMS maintains one-time printing rights only. For legal reasons, all video and photography must be your own work. If there is a copyright on it, you must own it. Video, photos, and writing must have been created in Minnesota or surrounding area to be added to our database.