Creeping Buttercup
Common Name
Creeping buttercup
Scientific Name
Ranunculus repens
Family
Ranunculaceae
Lifecycle
Perennial
Seasons of Growth
Flowers from May to June. Seeds can germinate anytime during Autumn/Winter.
Key Distinguishing Feature
Creeping buttercup has short, enlarged stems and creeping base that root at the nodes. Can be distinguished from other buttercup species by the low creeping ground cover it provides. Leaves are a dark green with light patches and have spiky edges. Flowers have bright yellow, glossy petals and grow singly along the stalks of the plant.
Creeping buttercup’s competitive growth crowds out other plants, especially in wet soils. One plant can spread over a 40 square meter area in a year. Creeping buttercup also depletes potassium in the soil and so can have a detrimental effect on surrounding plants. Because creeping buttercup can tolerate heavy, wet soils, it can be a particularly bad problem on well-watered lawns, wet meadows and poorly drained pastures.
