1 named cultivar

‘Buttered Popcorn’'Buttered Popcorn' Creeping Buttercup

perennial

Creeping Buttercup

The Story

Plant Bio

Ranunculus repens, the creeping buttercup, is a low Eurasian perennial nine to twelve inches high that spreads two to three feet by rooting runners. Divided, often pale-blotched leaves form dense mats, and glossy yellow cup flowers open from May to August. It roots at every node, survives mowing, and tolerates both heavy shade and wet ground.

It is invasive across much of North America and one of the harder weeds to remove, since every rooted node regenerates and the runners knit through lawn and border alike. For similar cover in moist shade, plant creeping Jenny or a native sedge instead; if it is already present, lift the whole mat rather than pulling at individual stems.

Uses & Benefits:

Glossy yellow cups over blotched foliage through a long summer season.

Covers wet, shaded, trampled ground where most ground covers fail, which is also why it escapes.

Flowers feed small pollinators, but the species displaces native vegetation across its introduced range.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

8 inches

Width

30 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Water

Medium to high

Humidity

Average to high

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Eurasia

Toxicity

Toxic if ingested; sap irritates skin

Planting

How to Grow

Check whether it is listed as invasive in your area first.
If growing it, confine it to a bounded, edged area.
Site in sun to shade in medium to wet soil.
Water enough to keep the soil moist.
Cut the runners back before they root beyond the edge.
Lift entire mats rather than pulling individual stems.

Pro Tip

Pulling at the stems leaves the rooted nodes behind and achieves nothing; the mat has to come up whole to make any difference.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Check local invasive listings before planting 📋
Confine it to a hard-edged area 🧱
Cut back runners before they root 🌿
Wear gloves; the sap blisters skin 🧤

Don't

Plant it near lawns, borders or wild land ❌
Pull at stems and leave rooted nodes behind ❌
Let livestock graze where it grows ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Clear
Control

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Contained ground cover in wet shade where permittedNaturalised cover on damp rough groundPond periphery planting behind a barrier

Companion Plants

Creeping Jenny Black Sedge Marsh Marigold Sweet Flag Ostrich Fern

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Creeping Buttercup questions

What zones can Creeping Buttercup grow in?

Creeping Buttercup is hardy in USDA Zones 4–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Creeping Buttercup deer resistant?

Not reliably. Deer may browse Creeping Buttercup, especially tender spring growth — plan on repellents or fencing where pressure is high.

When does Creeping Buttercup bloom?

Creeping Buttercup typically blooms in late spring through summer through late spring. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Creeping Buttercup need full sun?

Creeping Buttercup does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.