Creeping buttercup is a perennial herbaceous plant with yellow flowers. It has compound leaves divided into three broad leaflets, each with a stalk, and is distinguished from other buttercups by its prostrate running stems, which produce roots and new plants at the nodes.
Growth Habit
Creeping buttercup grows up to 50 cm (20 in) tall, with both prostrate running stems and more or less erect flowering stems. The plant prefers wet soil and can thrive in fields, pastures, and gardens.
Like most buttercups, Ranunculus repens is poisonous, although the toxins are lost when dried with hay.
Wildlife Value
Creeping buttercup is a great plant for wildlife, with its nectar and pollen-rich flowers attractive to bees, butterflies, and hoverflies. It is included on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list.
Gardening Notes
Some gardeners deliberately introduce creeping buttercup into their gardens because it is an attractive native wildflower. Its bright yellow flowers, held on strong, branching stems, make an attractive addition to wildflower meadows and species-rich lawns.
