Ranunculus repens
“Creeping Buttercup”
RANUNCULACEAE
Evergreen Perennial – Invasive Weed
Zone: 4 – 9 (likely wider)
Native habitat : Europe, Asia, NW Africa; meadow plant
Conditions
Soil: any, likes acidity
Moisture: likes moisture
Light: full sun to full shade
Exposure: general; is tough
Plant size (h x w): 1′ x 1′
Other:** Is often a sign of poor drainage (as well as acidic moist soil)
Aesthetic
Shape/stem: spreading, clumping, stems hairy and soft
Leaf: 3 leaflets, stalked and deeply cut, often with white spots, hair underneath, veiny
Flower: bright, shiny, yellow, 5 waxy petals
Bloom: spring through summer
Other: spreads by seed and runners: sub-lateral runners develop to form a vigorous, firmly anchored network of stems; roots: strong white, deeply penetrating, branch from each leaf node
Treatment (how to…)
Since this plant spread by both seed and runner it can be difficult to eradicate. Commercial mowers are a big culprit of spreading the seed; carrying it from one lawn to the next. This weed will easily take over a lawn. It is hard to get rid of.
Removal: Remove before it goes to seed whenever possible by digging it out. Ideally remove out of a lawn in spring before you mow and when you are able to reseed. Be persistent in your weeding! (will need to do this a number of times) If you don’t have anything planted in the bed you can smother it with sheet mulches of black plastic left for the whole summer. You can also weed out and then how and turn the bed (less effective). Chemical controls such as common lawn weed killer or glyphosate based weed killers will work fairly effectively.
Uses
Medicinal: toxic, do not eat, some traditional medical uses, young leaves are edible once cured.
Vulnerabilities
Pests and disease: none significant
Deer resistant: deer resistant
Other animals: is toxic to grazing animals, they avoid it
Interest
Local info,:Extremely invasive, introduced weed. There is a native buttercup but it is not invasive.
Nature: invasive weed partial to damp acidic soil, spreading by seed and stolon, tenacious
Identification (key features): classic glossy-yellow flowers, 5 petals, 3 leaflets
Interesting facts: was sold in many parts of the world as an ordamental plant
Comments:
. west coast island blooms . 