DEAR JESSICA: I have had this plant come up for several years. I have dug it out, but alas it is winning. It’s one of the first things to come up in the spring and has choked out other plants and now is part of the lawn. I have noticed it in other yards in my neighborhood. Help! — Stella Silverman, Riverhead, N.Y.

DEAR STELLA: That’s Ficaria verna, a ground cover commonly called lesser celandine or fig buttercup. The plant is an ephemeral perennial, which means it pokes out of the ground, grows quickly, blooms and goes dormant, all over the course of just six to eight weeks, after which it disappears underground without a trace until next spring. Because of its life cycle, there really isn’t a need to eradicate it from the lawn. Using an herbicide would also threaten grass, so I recommend you enjoy the early spring color by waiting it out.

Because you’ve noted it has choked out plants in your garden, you can try to eliminate it in those beds by treating it with an iron-based broadleaf herbicide, such as Fiesta, that is specifically labeled for use on this plant, among others. This is best done very early in the season, before it flowers, as the plant is most susceptible at that time. You also can dig it out from under your other plants, taking care to lift its long tap root out of the ground without leaving broken bits behind. But neither method is foolproof. Good luck!

Jessica Damiano is a master gardener and journalist with more than 25 years experience in radio, television, print and online media. Send questions to jessica.damiano@newsday.com.