Eschscholtz's Buttercup
Ranunculus eschscholtzii
- Native to:
- Aleutian Is., Canada, Kuril Is., Russia, United States
Walter Siegmund (talk)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Genus:
- Ranunculus
- Species:
- Ranunculus eschscholtzii
- USDA Symbol:
- RAES
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Geophyte
- Height:
- 25 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, well-drained loamy or sandy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers alpine and subalpine meadow habitats
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Requires cold stratification and light for germination. Seeds may germinate erratically.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: 5 month outdoor cold moist stratification
Establishment: Seeds are hand collected when achenes turn tan during the month of August. Seeds are collected in paper bags and kept in a well ventilated drying shed prior to cleaning. The plant occurs in mountain meadows and talus slopes; from Alaska to California, east to Alberta, Rocky Mountain States, and Arizona.
Source: npn.rngr.net