Ranunculus aquatilis

RHS Plant Profile
common water crowfoot

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Ranunculus aquatilis?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
common water crowfoot RHS 2002

Other common names

lodewort, ram's foot, ram's wort, water anemone, water crowfoot, water snowcups, water buttercup, crafanc y dŵr

Synonyms

Ranunculus aquatilis var. heterophyllus
Ranunculus godronii
Ranunculus aquaticus
Ranunculus caespitosus
Ranunculus heterophyllus

Plants for pollinators
Aquatic
Thank you - your purchase supports our charity work Buy this from RHS Plants Shop
Buy online from £22.99Buy this from Plant Nurseries
9 Suppliers

A short-lived aquatic perennial with submerged, branched slender stems and leaves divided into thread-like segments, and palmately lobed, dark green floating leaves, with solitary white flowers 2cm across in summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Poorly–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–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
Evergreen
Habit
Matforming, Submerged, Floating
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

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in muddy pool margins in water 15-60cm deep, in full sun. Will grow in slow or fast moving fresh water. See pond plants for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown as soon as ripe

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildlife gardens
  • Low Maintenance

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

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