Cursed Buttercup
Ranunculus sceleratus
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Baleares, Baltic States, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krym, Kuril Is., Laos, Morocco, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Sicilia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Thailand, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
Michel Langeveld (www.inaturalist.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Genus:
- Ranunculus
- Species:
- Ranunculus sceleratus
- USDA Symbol:
- RASC3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Geophyte
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- waterfowl
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, moisture-retentive clay or loam
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist to wet
- Notes:
- commonly found in marshes and wet meadows
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination. Best sown on soil surface in consistently wet conditions.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI