Small-flowered Buttercup
Ranunculus abortivus
Also listed as Ranunculus holmii, Ranunculus michiganensis
Also known as Kidneyleaf Buttercup, Littleleaf Buttercup
Climate Match for your location
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A low-growing wildflower with small yellow buttercup flowers that appear in spring. Often found in woodlands and meadows, it self-seeds readily and can naturalize in suitable conditions.
Why grow it
Small-flowered buttercup is less aggressive than common buttercup species, making it useful for naturalizing in open woodlands or meadows where you want spring color without heavy maintenance. Its modest scale and early bloom time allow it to establish alongside native understory plants without outcompeting them. The species readily self-seeds in appropriate conditions, reducing replanting needs in suitable sites.
Watch out for
This plant prefers moist to moderately dry soils and may struggle or decline in compacted or consistently waterlogged ground. In drier conditions, plants may remain small or flower sparsely, so site selection and initial establishment care influence long-term success more than with some other buttercups.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, 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, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing wildflower with small yellow buttercup flowers that appear in spring. Often found in woodlands and meadows, it self-seeds readily and can naturalize in suitable conditions.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Small-flowered Buttercup grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Small-flowered buttercup is less aggressive than common buttercup species, making it useful for naturalizing in open woodlands or meadows where you want spring color without heavy maintenance. Its modest scale and early bloom time allow it to establish alongside native understory plants without outcompeting them. The species readily self-seeds in appropriate conditions, reducing replanting needs in suitable sites.
Watch out for
This plant prefers moist to moderately dry soils and may struggle or decline in compacted or consistently waterlogged ground. In drier conditions, plants may remain small or flower sparsely, so site selection and initial establishment care influence long-term success more than with some other buttercups.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, 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, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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