Flower profile

Creeping buttercup

Ranunculus repens

Creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens) is a flowering plant in the Ranunculaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–July across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Creeping buttercup is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

43states where USDA records it

3Bloomipedia state lists include it

12,354U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alaska, Oregon, Washington

Quick look

Ranunculus repens, the creeping buttercup, is a flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to Europe, Asia and northwestern Africa. It is also called creeping crowfoot and sitfast.
From Wikipedia's article Ranunculus repens, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 43 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to Washington, Oregon and Alaska. ^NatureServe
In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. ^iNaturalist
In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 5,930 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #21 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,321 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #70 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 590 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #74 among the 121 flowers on our Alaska list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,960 records)

Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Washington	Introduced	May–June	5,930
Oregon	Introduced	May–June	2,321
Alaska	Introduced	few records (23)	590

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Washington: No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Washington.
Oregon: Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Oregon. ^{OAR 603-073-0070}
Alaska: No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Alaska.
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleToxic (moderate, per USDA)

USDA PLANTS rates its toxicity as “moderate.” (USDA's rating covers people and livestock and doesn't say which parts.) NC State Extension has no page for it. ^{USDA PLANTS}

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Buttercup” (Ranunculus spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, oral ulcers and wobbly… ^ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records creeping buttercup in 43 states plus Washington, D.C.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.

Washington counties with USDA records: Benton, Clallam, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whitman, Yakima.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Grant, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Washington, Yamhill.

Alaska counties with USDA records: Aleutians West, Bethel, Bristol Bay, Chugach, Copper River, Dillingham, Haines, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Ketchikan Gateway, Nome, Sitka, Yakutat, Yukon-Koyukuk.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Creeping buttercup a low shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.6 to 7.2 and winter lows down to -28 °F.

Shade tolerance: Low
Drought tolerance: Low
Moisture use: Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to: medium, fine
Soil pH range: 5.6 to 7.2
Minimum temperature tolerated: -28 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 120
Annual precipitation range: 19 to 69 inches
Minimum root depth: 6 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Rapid
Lifespan: Short
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by: seed
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for RARE3. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Introduced; Canada: Introduced; Greenland: Introduced; Hawaii: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Introduced.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 438 counties across 39 states; the most are in Pennsylvania (49), New York (33), Virginia (31).

Other Ranunculus on Bloomipedia (2): Sagebrush buttercup, Hairy buttercup.

More from the Ranunculaceae family (48 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lesser celandine, Rue anemone, Red columbine, Wood anemone, Western columbine, Marsh marigold, White baneberry, Round-lobed hepatica.

More Washington flowers

Western columbine

Aquilegia formosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: May–July

White pasqueflower

Pulsatilla occidentalis

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: June–August

Salmonberry

Rubus spectabilis

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: March–May

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile RARE3.
iNaturalist, Ranunculus repens: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Ranunculus repens (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
Oregon: Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070).
Oregon: Oregon noxious weed quarantine, A and B weeds (OAR 603-052-1200).
Alaska: Alaska prohibited and restricted noxious weeds (11 AAC 34.020).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Ranunculus repens (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: USDA PLANTS; ASPCA.
Photo: Gavin Slater via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.