Ranunculus acris L.
Common Buttercup
Meadow buttercup is a familiar native perennial of the buttercup family, and one of the most widespread wild flowers of British grassland. Unlike its creeping cousins it forms an upright, branching clump with no spreading runners, sending up tall, slender, slightly hairy stems above deeply cut, palm-shaped basal leaves.
About
Meadow buttercup is a familiar native perennial of the buttercup family, and one of the most widespread wild flowers of British grassland. Unlike its creeping cousins it forms an upright, branching clump with no spreading runners, sending up tall, slender, slightly hairy stems above deeply cut, palm-shaped basal leaves. From late spring through midsummer it carries open, glossy five-petalled flowers of clear bright yellow, held well clear of the foliage and visited freely by bees, hoverflies and other small insects.
It thrives in damp to moist neutral soils and is happiest in old hay meadows, pastures, road verges and field margins in full sun or light shade. As a tall, long-flowering species it is a mainstay of traditional meadow seed mixes, adding height and a long season of colour. Like all buttercups its sap is acrid and the plant is avoided by grazing stock, so it often persists in fields where other plants are eaten down.
Also known as
Meadow Buttercup · Tall Buttercup · Tall Crowfoot · Tall Field Buttercup
Synonyms
Ranunculastrum boraeanum · Ranunculus acer · Ranunculus acris acris · Ranunculus acris latisectus · Ranunculus acris typicus · Ranunculus constantinopolitanus · Ranunculus lanuginosus · Ranunculus montanus · Ranunculus rivularis · Ranunculus tuberosus
In our seed mixes
- BFS 1 – Traditional Hay Meadow Wildflower Mix
- BFS 10 – Species Rich Wildflower Meadow Seed Mix
- BFS 11a – Coastal Floodplain Grassland Meadow Seed Mix
- BFS 13 – Tussocky Grassland Wildflower Meadow Mix
- BFS 2 – Acid Grassland Wildflower Seed Mix for Sandy or Peaty Soils
- BFS 3 – Floodplain Meadow Grassland Seed Mix
- BFS 4 – Heavy Clay Soil Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 5 – Wetland & Pond Edge Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 7 – Calcareous Grassland Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 8 – High Nutrient Initial Establishment Wildflower Grassland Mix – 50% Flora
- BFS1(F) – Traditional Hay Meadow 100% Wildflower
- BFS10(F) – Species Rich 100% Wildflower Meadow Mix
- BFS11A(F)- Coastal Floodplain 100% Meadow Mix
- BFS13(F) – Tussocky Grassland 100% Wildflower Meadow Mix
- BFS2(F)- Acid Grassland 100% Wildflowers for Sandy/Peaty Soils
- BFS3(F)-Floodplain 100% Meadow Grassland Mix
- BFS4(F) – Heavy Clay Soil 100% Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS5(F)-Wetland & Pond Edge 100% Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS7(F)- Calcareous Grassland 100% Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS8(F) – High Nutrient Initial Establishment 100% Wildflower Mix
- BFS9(F)- Country Meadow 100% Wildflower Seed Mix
- UM11 – Patchwork Wildflower Mix
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.