Kabbeleka och smörboll för dammkanten
Caltha palustris – Marsh Marigold / Kabbeleka
Caltha palustris, also known as marsh marigold or cowslip (Swedish: kabbeleka), is a robust, herbaceous perennial from the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family. It thrives in wet meadows, streambanks, pond edges, and other marshy places across the northern temperate zones, including large parts of North America and Europe.
Physical Characteristics
The marsh marigold typically forms compact clumps, growing 30–60 cm (1–2 ft) tall and spreading 30–45 cm wide, with glossy, rounded to heart-shaped leaves and hollow, branching stems. Its deep green foliage provides early spring interest. The most striking feature is its bright yellow, buttercup-like flowers, each with 5–12 petal-like sepals (true petals are absent), blooming in abundance from April to May.
Cultivated Varieties
While the wild type can be quite vigorous and aggressive, spreading by seed and forming dense colonies, there are now several refined garden selections that are much less expansive—ideal for providing a natural touch around water features or pond edges.
- Double-flowering forms such as ‘Flore Pleno’ and ‘Multiplex’ have impressively full flowers but are not as prone to self-seeding.
- For a striking white version, Caltha palustris var. alba presents single, snow-white blooms in early spring.
- In addition, there is the less winter-hardy Caltha leptosepala, or “iskabbeleka”, which can survive perhaps to zone 2. This species is particularly valued for its pure white flowers but is not suitable for all climates.
All these garden varieties are as hardy as the wild species, thriving up to zone 8. However, they are far less likely to spread aggressively by seed, staying mainly where planted.
Growing Conditions and Care
Caltha palustris prefers:
- Moist, rich, and slightly acidic soils with good organic content.
- Locations with consistently wet soil—perfect for pond margins or the edges of garden streams.
Notably, the white-flowered forms and named varieties (cultivars like ‘Flore Pleno’ or var. alba) should not be planted in standing water, but rather in humus-rich, moisture-retentive soils that never fully dry out. Ordinary garden soils with good moisture will often suffice, provided they remain consistently damp.
Related Species: Globeflowers (Trollius)
For gardeners seeking early colour and foliage in moist conditions, globeflowers (genus Trollius) are closely related and equally decorative:
- The classic European globeflower, Trollius europaeus, remains a beautiful garden perennial for moist sites, hardy as far as zone 8.
Cultivated hybrids, sold as Trollius x cultorum or Trollius x hybridum, originate from crosses between T. europaeus, T. chinensis, and T. asiaticus. These hybrids vary in height (30–80 cm) and offer a wider palette:
- ‘Earliest of All’ – pale orange-yellow, 60 cm
- ‘Orange Globe’ – deep orange, 60 cm
- ‘Prichard’s Giant’ – tall (80 cm), rich gold-orange
- ‘Yellow Beauty’ – soft yellow, 70 cm
- New selections include the creamy white ‘Alabaster’, and lemon-yellow ‘Lemon Queen*.
Most Trollius hybrids are reliably hardy to zone 5-6 and flower from May to June.
The distinguished Chinese species, Trollius chinensis, reaches 70 cm with brilliant orange, bowl-shaped blossoms and a central cluster of petal-like structures. A bright cultivar worth noting is the yellow ‘Golden Queen*.
Trollius laxus, a daintier species favoured by collectors, tops out at only 20 cm, with pale, simple creamy flowers; perfect for a subtle effect at the edge of a pond.
Much like marsh marigold, globeflowers prefer rich, moist soils but can succeed in regular perennial borders if watered well during dry periods.
Toxicity and Wildlife Value
Both marsh marigold and globeflowers belong to the buttercup family and are toxic—making them unpalatable to deer and hares. While young leaves of marsh marigold have reportedly been used as a cooked green, caution is advised due to low to moderate toxicity. Always avoid handling or ingestion unless fully informed. Their toxicity also makes them reliable garden plants in areas with browsing wildlife.
Pollinator Benefits and Garden Use
These vibrant spring flowers are valuable early nectar sources for pollinators such as bees and sometimes hummingbirds. With their showy blooms and lush foliage, they create a naturalistic look and pair well with other moisture-loving perennials.
Summary
With refined varieties and hybrids now available, Caltha palustris and its relatives make stunning additions to pondsides, marshy hollows, or even ordinary garden beds with sufficient moisture. Their resilience, early flowering, and untamed beauty bring a touch of the wild into cultivated spaces—without unwanted invasiveness. For more inspiration and information on wetland plants, see Fler våtmarksväxter att läsa om.
Images
Kabbeleka, Caltha palustris
Trollius europeaus i miljö