Meadow buttercup
Ranunculus arvensis · Ranunculaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant meadow buttercup: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- April to June
- Adult size
- 20 to 50 cm in height
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (down to -15°C)
- Origin
- Temperate Europe and Western Asia
- Soil type
- Well-drained, tolerant
Care
Exposure
Meadow buttercup prefers full sun to partial shade for optimal flowering. It tolerates direct morning light well and can handle a few hours of afternoon shade.
Watering
Water regularly during the growing period (spring), keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged. Once established, the plant tolerates drought better. Reduce watering in summer and autumn.
Soil and Drainage
This species adapts to most soils but prefers well-drained and slightly fertile substrate. Avoid chronic waterlogging which could promote root rot.
Fertilizer
Moderate fertilizer application in spring is sufficient. Too much nitrogen encourages vegetation at the expense of flowering. Balanced fertilizer applied once a month during the growing season is recommended.
Pruning and Maintenance
No strict pruning is necessary. Remove spent flowers to extend flowering and deadhead seeds if you wish to prevent excessive self-seeding. Remove dead parts in late winter.
Diseases and Pests
This plant is generally robust. It can be prone to powdery mildew in prolonged humid weather; improve air circulation in that case. Slugs and snails enjoy tender foliage in spring.
Did you know?
Meadow buttercup is a weed species once feared by farmers due to its spread in crops, but its small bright yellow flowers (often with 5 waxy petals) have made it an interesting botanical curiosity. Its seeds feature characteristic spiny tubercles that cling to clothes and animal fur for dispersal.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Stinking helleboreHelleborus foetidus
- Meadow rueThalictrum aquilegiifolium
- Christmas roseHelleborus niger
- Grecian windflowerAnemone blanda
- Lenten roseHelleborus orientalis
- Hubei AnemoneEriocapitella hupehensis
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.