Marsh marigold
Caltha palustris
Marsh marigold is a perennial for edging, groundcover, suited to full sun to partial shade and clay, loam or moist ground, flowering Mar, Apr, May.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 30 cm |
| Spread | 45 cm |
| Aspect | full sun to partial shade |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Hardiness | USDA 3a-7b, RHS H7 |
| Pollinator-friendly | Yes |
| Pet-safe | No |
Where to use it in a border
At around 30 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 45 cm of room to spread, roughly 2 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 3a to 7b and rated H7 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of full sun, clay soil, wet soil, pollinator-friendly plants.
Border Builder uses Marsh marigold's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- It copes with ground that stays wet, which most border plants will not.
- Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
- Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Black Cohoshfor height behind it
- Cinnamon Fernfor height behind it
- Foxglovefor height behind it
- Fringed Bleeding Heartto edge in front
- Granny's Bonnetto flower when it does not
- Northern Sea Oatsfor height behind it