LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – A bright, yellow bloom might look like a sign of spring, but officials with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) say one flower isn’t so pretty since it could damage the state’s ecosystem.

DNR officials say Michiganders should keep an eye out for lesser celandine, also known as fig buttercup. It’s an aggressive invasive plant quietly spreading across the Upper Midwest.

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Lesser celandine a perennial with shiny, dark green, heart-shaped leaves and small, yellow flowers. It blooms in early spring, then dies when native trees start growing leaves.

Michelle Beloskur, director of the Midwest Invasive Plant Network, said there’s a short window of time to identify the plant. “It’s critical to be on the lookout for this plant now,” she said.

Lesser celandine prefers moist, lowland environments, including forest flows and flood plains, and can spread to lawns.

The plant has been confirmed in mid-Michigan. The DNR is encouraging people in the Upper Peninsula, northern Lower Michigan and the Grand River corridor to keep a close eye when exploring this spring.

If you spot lesser celandine, report it here.