Tall Buttercup

Ranunculus acris is a nonnative species of buttercup, also known as ‘common or meadow buttercup’. According to the MN Wildflowers site, Minnesota has about 15 species of native buttercups (i.e. little-leaf buttercup). Tall buttercup is one of the 2 or 3 species that are non native. It is common to find this flower growing equally well in sunny, moist fields and along the shady edges of woods and roadsides, particularly where the soil is moist.

Producing 1/2 inch wide flowers on the ends of stems that can get to be over 3 feet tall, this sunny, yellow flower appears May through frost. What pops out right away as a defining characteristic is the shininess of the 5 rounded petals — quite noticeable on holding the flower up at an angle to the sun.

Leaves are very deeply lobed in 3 to 5 lobes, and not profuse as they grow alternately up the variously hairy stem, becoming less lobed towards the top.

Under the right conditions, such as a moist year and the availability of open, moist fields, tall buttercup can colonize and become invasive. That said, the species is not of particular concern. So for now, when I see tall buttercup nodding to me along the trail on a summer hike, I will enjoy without too many qualms the sunny touches of color this flower adds to the landscape.