Greater Celandine Plant Care
Chelidonium majus subsp. grandiflorum (DC.) Printz
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Every 3–5 days
Partial shade to full shade
50–75°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Greater Celandine?
Water Greater Celandine every 3–5 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it partial shade to full shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.
What Is the Greater Celandine?
Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus subsp. grandiflorum) belongs to the Papaveraceae family within the Chelidonium genus. Greater Celandine is also known as Celandine.
Greater Celandine displays a spreading perennial herb growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Greater Celandine produces small yellow flowers in clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Greater Celandine?
Chelidonium majus subsp. grandiflorum requires watering every 3–5 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 3–5 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Greater Celandine Need?
Greater Celandine thrives in partial shade to full shade. The optimal light range is 100–500 lux. Avoid placing Greater Celandine in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.
Light Requirement
Partial shade to full shade
100–500 lux
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Greater Celandine Prefer?
Chelidonium majus subsp. grandiflorum grows best at temperatures of 50–75°F. Greater Celandine prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–75°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Greater Celandine?
Moist, well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Greater Celandine to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Greater Celandine?
Feed Greater Celandine every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Greater Celandine?
Divide and repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Greater Celandine?
Greater Celandine can be propagated through seeds, division of rhizomes. Similar propagation techniques also apply to greater celandine plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Greater Celandine Toxic to Pets and Children?
Toxic (caution)
Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.
Toxic if ingested, can cause skin irritation
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Greater Celandine?
Greater Celandine is susceptible to aphids, slugs, snails. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Greater Celandine Need?
Greater Celandine grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Greater Celandine as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Greater Celandine is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Chelidonium genus — compare its care with other Chelidonium species on PlantoScan.
Chelidonium is part of the Papaveraceae plant family — browse all Papaveraceae genera and species.
Greater Celandine copes with lower light than most plants — browse the full list of low-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Chelidonium majus subsp. grandiflorum (DC.) Printz, family Papaveraceae (first published in Veg. Siber.-Mongol. Front. 251 1921) — World Flora Online record.
- Pet toxicity: Greater Celandine is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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