Ranunculus repens (Creeping buttercup)

Botanical name

Ranunculus repens

Other names

Creeping buttercup, Creeping crowfoot, Creping yellow gowan, Lantern leaves, Ram's claws, Sit-fast, Water buttercup

Genus

Ranunculus Ranunculus

Species

R. repens - R. repens is a mat-forming, vigorously-spreading, stoloniferous, deciduous perennial with rounded, hairy, mid-green leaves divided into three toothed lobes and upright stems bearing glossy, cup-shaped, yellow flowers in summer.

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Spreading

Toxicity

Contact with sap may irritate skin. Though used in herbal or traditional medicine, all parts of the plant are poisonous. Toxins are reportedly destroyed by heat or drying.

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Colour

Flower

Yellow in Summer

Foliage

Mid-green in Summer; Mid-green in Autumn

General care

Propagation

Divide in spring. Divisions can be planted out immediately.

Propagation methods

Division, Seed

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Ranunculus repens (Creeping buttercup) will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 1m after 2-5 years.

Suggested uses

Woodland, Wildlife, Wildflower, Ground Cover, Cottage/Informal

Cultivation

Grow in moist soil in full sun or partial shade. Site carefully as it usually is invasive. Considered a noxious or nuisance weed in many non-native countries.

Soil type

Clay, Loamy

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Partial Shade, Full Sun

Aspect

North, South, East, West

Exposure

Exposed, Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Hardy (H4)

USDA zones

Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4, Zone 3

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Ranunculus repens (Creeping buttercup)

Common pest name

Scientific pest name

Hyalesthes obsoletus

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

Planthopper which can vector the pathogen causing Potato stolbur disease. Present elsewhere in Europe and increasing its range due to a new a nettle-preferring race. Main breeding hosts are not traded as planting material; but some minor hosts (e.g. Lavender) are.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/