greater celandine

plant

Also known as: Chelidonium majus, wartweed

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) is a flowering plant from the poppy family, native to Europe and Asia. It was historically used in herbalism for wart removal and was known as wartweed. The plant has yellow, four-petaled flowers and divided leaves. Its orange sap contains potentially poisonous alkaloids.1

Greater celandine aids in seed dispersal through a white appendage on its seeds, which attracts ants. Other plants referred to as celandine include celandine poppies (Stylophorum) from North America and China, and the lesser celandine or pilewort (Ranunculus ficaria) from the buttercup family.1

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celandine
The greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) is native to deciduous woods of Europe and Asia and is the only member of its genus. Once a valued plant of the Old World herbalist for its reputed power to remove warts, it was formerly known as wartweed. Its orange-coloured…
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The greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) is native to deciduous woods of Europe and Asia and is the only member of its genus. Once a valued plant of the Old World herbalist for its reputed power to remove warts, it was formerly known as wartweed. Its orange-coloured…
Read More