Western Buttercup

Ranunculus occidentalis

five to six petalled yellow buttercup flowers

A patch of yellow-flowered buttercups on thin stems

Plant Description

Western buttercup is a cheery perennial wildflower native to meadows, open woodlands, and grasslands of western North America. It grows from a cluster of basal leaves with lobed to divided blades and sends up slender stems topped with bright, glossy, five-petaled yellow flowers in spring to early summer. The blooms provide early nectar and pollen for native bees and other pollinators, making it an important component of spring wildflower communities. Ecologically, Western buttercup adds seasonal color and diversity to prairies and open habitats, while its seeds and foliage provide food for small mammals and invertebrates.

Plant Details

Life Forms	Forb
Habitats	Bottomland forests Fencelines Floodplains Gardens Grasslands Hillsides Little Habitats Meadows Oak woodlands Parklands Prairies Residential yards Riparian areas Roadsides Seeps Trailsides Upland prairies Wet prairies Woodlands
Soil and Moisture Conditions	Dry to moist
Special Uses	Attracts pollinators and or other beneficial insects Blooms April Blooms June Blooms May Deciduous Deer resistant Flowering Flowers yellow Good for rock garden Good for shady woodland garden Herbaceous Perennial Produces nectar Produces pollen Produces seeds Provides wildlife habitat
Shade Preference	Full sun Part shade
Mature Height	6-24”