Minnesota Wildflowers


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Ranunculus acris (Tall Buttercup)

Plant Info
Also known as: Common Buttercup, Crowfoot
Genus:Ranunculus
Family:Ranunculaceae (Buttercup)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:Europe
Status:
  • Invasive - ERADICATE!
  • Noxious Weed
Habitat:part shade, sun; moist fields, edges of woods, along roads
Bloom season:May - October
Plant height:10 to 40 inches
USDA PLANTS database:Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:

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Detailed Information

Flower: 5-petals panicle

[photo of flowers] Flowers are at the end of stems that arise from the leaf axils. Individual flowers are ½ to 1 inch across with 5 broad shiny yellow petals. There are numerous yellow stamens around the greenish center. One plant has several to many flowers.

Leaves and stem: alternate lobed

[photo of leaves] Leaves are to 4 inches long and 6 inches across, becoming progressively smaller as they ascend the stem, deeply divided into 3 to 5 narrow lobes, each lobe further divided. They are softly hairy and have no leaf stem. The main stem is hairy to varying degrees.

Notes:

There are several species of yellow buttercup that are native to Minnesota, Tall Buttercup is not one of them. It is most easily identified by its deeply lobed leaves. It also has larger flowers and is a taller plant than most native species.

Where to buy native seed and plants

Help support this site by buying seeds & plants from these vendors. Tell them we sent you!

  • Prairie Restorations - Bringing people together with the land
  • Shop for native seeds and plants at PrairieMoon.com!
  • Out Back Nursery and Landscaping - Where Ecology and Horticulture Unite
  • Shooting Star Native Seeds - Native Prairie Grass and Wildflower Seeds

Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN June 2008

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Carol G
on: 2009-06-23 16:48:36

This plant is abundant in Northeastern Minnesota along the Arrowhead Trail.

Posted by: Mark in Oakdale Nature Preserve, Oakdale MN
on: 2010-06-19 17:03:41

Scattered along most of the trails in Oakdale Nature Preserve, May-June 2010.

Posted by: Sonja in McGrath
on: 2010-12-09 10:59:41

its not everywhere but I do remember picking these as a kid from my Grams field, one of the only flowers she was happy we picked, lol. I still see them around but like I said their not everywhere.

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