Ranunculus septentrionalis (ra-NUN-ku-lus sep-ten-tree-NAL-iss)
Family: RanunculaceaeNativeHerbaceous
HerbaceousNative
Carolina buttercup is a stoloniferous annual or short-lived herbaceous perennial in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), native to most of the eastern US and Canada. It is native to North Carolina. The species epithet is from the Latin for “from the north,” which is accurate, but it also occurs in the southern USA. Carolina buttercup grows spontaneously in wet woodlands and swamps. It grows in full sun or partial shade, on moist, or even wet, humus-rich soil. It spreads by stolons, which root at nodes. The flowers of this species are bright and shiny yellow. They are irresistible to hoverflies. The Carolina buttercup is a good choice for a native wildflower meadow, a riparian or rain garden. It should be grown as a ground cover and allowed to spread. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. More information on Ranunculus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil drainage
Moist
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cordate
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Palmately lobed or divided, alternate, deeply three-parted leaves; leaflets are 1-2 inches long, smooth or appressed hairy terminal segment borne on smooth or appressed hairy stalks
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Cup
Flower detail
Flower yellow petals with short, reflexed sepals, thimble-like, often shiny.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit detail
Fruit a head of small, dry achenes
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern Canada and U.S.A.
Wildlife value
Seeds are eaten by birds, and bees, hoverflies and beetles pollinate the flowers
Attracts
Bees; Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Achene
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area
Landscape theme
Native Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rain Garden
Garden tags
#winter annual weed #NC native #native weed #problem for cats #problem for dogs #problem for horses #bee friendly #bird friendly #pollinator plant #NC Native Pollinator Plant #weedy #contact dermatitis
Problems & Resistance
Disease problems
Powdery Mildew of Strawberry
Problems
Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Wet Soil
Poison severity
Medium
Poison parts
Fruits; Leaves; Roots; Sap/Juice; Seeds; Stems
Poison symptoms
Ingestion causes burning of the mouth, abdominal pain, vomiting, depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, wobbly gait, and bloody diarrhea. Skin redness, burning sensation, and blisters following contact with cell sap.
Toxic principle
Protoanemonin, released from the glycoside ranunculin.