Ranunculus repens

RHS Plant Profile

creeping buttercup

RHS

Other common names

creeping crowfoot, creeping yellow gowan, lantern leaves, ram's claws, sit-fast, crafanc y frân

Herbaceous Perennial

A native wildflower, spreading by stems that root at the nodes. Leaves are hairy, rough-edged and sometimes have white markings. They are three-lobed, with the central lobe being stalked. Flowers of five-petalled, glossy, yellow cups are borne in summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Poorly–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Ranunculaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Matforming
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eatenskin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eatenskin irritant - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Ranunculus can be annuals, biennials, evergreen or herbaceous perennials, with rhizomes, tubers or spreading by runners. The leaves are variable but often palmately lobed or dissected and the flowers usually bowl-shaped
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Eurasia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Naturally occurs in damp grassland, but also turns up in gardens, and is a valuable wildlife plant tolerating both wet and dry conditions. See creeping buttercup for more information

Propagation

Propagate by seed or plant division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildflower meadow
Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, a rust and grey moulds