Carolina Buttercup Ranunculus carolinianus
- Phonetic Spelling
- ra-NUN-ku-lus kair-oh-lin-ee-AY-nuss
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Carolina Buttercup is a native winter annual weed or short-lived perennial. It is found in low woods, damp thickets and is weedy in disturbed areas. It spreads by creeping along the ground and rooting at the nodes.
- 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:
- carolinianus
- 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 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 Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit a head of small, dry achenes
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Description:
- Flower yellow petals with short reflexed sepals, thimblelike, often shiny.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- 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
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- 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:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
