Flower profile

Sagebrush buttercup

Ranunculus glaberrimus

Sagebrush buttercup (Ranunculus glaberrimus) is a flowering plant in the Ranunculaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–May across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Sagebrush buttercup is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native 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 March–May.

14states where USDA records it

3Bloomipedia state lists include it

4,409U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Idaho, Montana, Wyoming

Quick look

Ranunculus glaberrimus, the sagebrush buttercup, is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. It is native to interior western North America, in western Canada, the western United States, and the northwestern Great Plains.
From Wikipedia's article Ranunculus glaberrimus, 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 native in the lower 48 states and records it in 14 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. ^NatureServe
In Idaho, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in February–May. ^iNaturalist
In Montana, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. ^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 0.5 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 799 research-grade sightings of it in Idaho, ranking #31 among the 143 flowers on our Idaho list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 665 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #63 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 312 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #92 among the 113 flowers on our Wyoming list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,225 records)

Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Idaho	Native	February–May	799
Montana	Native	March–May	665
Wyoming	Native	April–May	312

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Idaho: No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
Montana: No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Montana.
Wyoming: No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Wyoming.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: AZ (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

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 sagebrush buttercup in 14 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Idaho counties with USDA records: Ada, Adams, Bannock, Benewah, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Bonneville, Butte, Camas, Canyon, Cassia, Clark, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lincoln, Nez Perce, Owyhee, Twin Falls, Washington.

Montana counties with USDA records: Beaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Flathead, Gallatin, Glacier, Hill, Jefferson, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, Madison, McCone, Meagher, Missoula, Park, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Powell, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sanders, Sheridan, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Toole, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, Yellowstone.

Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Big Horn, Campbell, Carbon, Crook, Fremont, Hot Springs, Johnson, Laramie, Natrona, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Sweetwater, Teton, Washakie, Weston.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Sagebrush buttercup a high shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.0 to 7.5 and winter lows down to -43 °F.

Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: Low
Moisture use: High
Soil textures it is adapted to: medium
Soil pH range: 6.0 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated: -43 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 180
Annual precipitation range: 35 to 55 inches
Minimum root depth: 6 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Short
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by: seed
Commercial availability: No Known Source

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

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 176 counties across 14 states; the most are in Montana (43), Idaho (27), Washington (19).

Other Ranunculus on Bloomipedia (2): Creeping 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 Idaho flowers

Curveseed butterwort

Ceratocephala testiculata

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in ID

Red baneberry

Actaea rubra

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in ID

Columbian monkshood

Aconitum columbianum

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in ID

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile RAGL.
iNaturalist, Ranunculus glaberrimus: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Ranunculus glaberrimus (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Idaho: Idaho noxious weeds (IDAPA 02.06.09, Section 220).
Montana: Montana noxious weed list (Admin. R. Mont. 4.5.206–4.5.210).
Wyoming: Wyoming state designated noxious weeds (W.S. 11-5-102(a)(xi)), as listed by the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council.
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Ranunculus glaberrimus (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: USDA PLANTS; ASPCA.
Photo: John Gaskin via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.