There are approximately 400 species of buttercups that vary in size and the appearance of the leaves and blooms . Buttercup flower are typically yellow , however , hybridization has produced cultivar in a mixture of colors .
The plebeian name " buttercup " refers to wildflower species in the genusRanunculus . These flowering plant life grow fromfleshy underground stems . Buttercup flowers are extremely attractive to pollinators .
Many native and non - native specie of buttercups are considered weeds in North America , though some cultivar are prized as garden prime .
Types of Buttercups
There are approximately 400 species of buttercups . Some buttercups are annuals , while others are biennial or short - inhabit repeated plants . While many buttercups are icteric , hybridizing has produced an array of flower colors . The flower of these plant life typically have many stamens .
Many species of buttercups are toxic if have and can cause contact dermatitis .
What does a crowfoot look like ? It depends on the species and the cultivars . countenance ’s look at the characteristics of some common mintage of buttercups .
Tip
Many species of kingcup have yellow flowers with numerous stamens .
Creeping Buttercup
As you may deduce from its name , the creeping buttercup ( Ranunculus repens ) is a low - growing species that distribute through creeping radical and can be used as a ground cover .
aboriginal to Europe and Asia , this species has bright yellow flowers that are about an inch wide . It has become invasive in parts of the U.S. , though named cultivars uncommitted in commerce tend to be less invading .
The leaves of this species are shiny and dark green . The leaves are trifoliate , which stand for that the compound leaves are part into three leaflets each .
Persian Buttercup
aboriginal to parts of northerly Africa , southern Europe and southwestern Asia , the Iranian butterflower ( Ranunculus asiaticus , zone 8 to 10 ) has poppy - like blossom that may be pink , purple , red-faced , white-hot or yellow . The leaves are evocative of Petroselinum crispum foliage . This species has heights of about 2 feet .
There are also many intercrossed cultivars of the Persian kingcup , include some that have double rosiness like peonies and come in a range of pastel colors .
Grassy Buttercup
The grassy goldcup ( Ranunculus gramineus , zones 6 to 10 ) convey its name from its grass - alike farewell , which may be up to 8 inches long . It is also known as the raft buttercup . The color of the leaves is greyish to bluish green .
The cup - like yellow-bellied flower are about 3/4 of an column inch wide . The flowers may grow individually or in group of three .
Meadow Buttercup
The meadow buttercup ( Ranunculus acris , zones 4 to 8) , also known as the tall buttercup , can reach heights of up to 3 feet . It is native to Europe and Asia and has become weedy in the U.S. The flowers typically have five rounded yellow petals , but may have up to eight .
The ' Flore Pleno ' cultivar has two-fold yellow flowers .
How to Grow Buttercups
Buttercups growbest in nerveless spring atmospheric condition . These plants often pass up during the warmth of summer .
Different specie of buttercups have different cultural needs . For example , the creep butterflower thrive in moist , louche area and can even grow in full or fond shade . The Iranian buttercup , on the other hand , ask well - debilitate filth and full Lord’s Day .
Though they can be overwintered , doing so can be tricky and so buttercups are usually treated as yearly .
