Ranunculus septentrionalis
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Ranunculus carolinianus
- Ranunculus hispidus var. nitidus
- Ranunculus repens var. nitidus
- Phonetic Spelling
- ra-NUN-ku-lus sep-ten-tree-NAL-iss
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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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.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ranunculus
- Species:
- septentrionalis
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Canada and U.S.A.
- Wildlife Value:
- Seeds are eaten by birds, and bees, hoverflies and beetles pollinate the flowers
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Weed
- Wildflower
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit a head of small, dry achenes
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Description:
- Flower yellow petals with short, reflexed sepals, thimble-like, often shiny.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 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
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- 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.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Protoanemonin, released from the glycoside ranunculin.
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
