Cursed Crowfoot
Ranunculus sceleratus
Also listed as Batrachium sceleratum, Hecatonia scelerata
Also known as Celery-leaved Crowfoot, Celery-leaved Buttercup, Blister Buttercup
Climate Match for your location
See how well Cursed Crowfoot grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
A low-growing annual or short-lived perennial with small yellow flowers and glossy foliage, typically found in wet habitats like marshes and pond margins. Named for its acrid, caustic sap that can irritate skin.
Why grow it
Ranunculus sceleratus establishes readily in disturbed wet margins and seasonally flooded areas where many ornamental species struggle, making it useful for stabilizing muddy zones or pioneer restoration. Compared to other buttercups, it tolerates deeper inundation and more extreme fluctuations in water level, though it lacks the ornamental appeal of cultivated varieties and is better suited to ecological rather than aesthetic roles.
Watch out for
Cursed crowfoot thrives in consistently moist to wet soils and will struggle in dry conditions, so site selection near water features or in poorly drained areas is essential for success. The plant self-seeds readily in suitable habitats, so deadheading spent flowers can help manage volunteer seedlings if desired. Handle with gloves during weeding or harvesting, as the sap irritation requires a barrier even though the plant is not systemically toxic.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Europe, Western Asia, North Africa
Native to: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing annual or short-lived perennial with small yellow flowers and glossy foliage, typically found in wet habitats like marshes and pond margins. Named for its acrid, caustic sap that can irritate skin.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Cursed Crowfoot grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Ranunculus sceleratus establishes readily in disturbed wet margins and seasonally flooded areas where many ornamental species struggle, making it useful for stabilizing muddy zones or pioneer restoration. Compared to other buttercups, it tolerates deeper inundation and more extreme fluctuations in water level, though it lacks the ornamental appeal of cultivated varieties and is better suited to ecological rather than aesthetic roles.
Watch out for
Cursed crowfoot thrives in consistently moist to wet soils and will struggle in dry conditions, so site selection near water features or in poorly drained areas is essential for success. The plant self-seeds readily in suitable habitats, so deadheading spent flowers can help manage volunteer seedlings if desired. Handle with gloves during weeding or harvesting, as the sap irritation requires a barrier even though the plant is not systemically toxic.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Europe, Western Asia, North Africa
Native to: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar herbs you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.