Meadow Buttercup– ranunculus acris – is sometimes given a bad name by the closely related Creeping Buttercup. Unlike its cousin however, Meadow Buttercup does not have the same creeping root system but grows as a distinctly individual plant to about knee high. In fact Meadow Buttercup is a desirable species to have in a wild seed mixture and will turn a meadow a rich golden yellow in late spring. Sadly Buttercup meadows are becoming a rare sight in the wild but fortunately the seeds are readily available and quite affordable making restorations a possibility.
Meadow Buttercups grow best in damp soils and meadows either in full sun or semi-shade. On drier sites it’s other relative, the Bulbous Buttercup, may grow better. Meadow Buttercup is best grown with other traditional meadow plants such as Ox-eye daisy, Black Knapweed, Great Burnet, Meadow Cranesbill, and Field Scabious which will give a long succession of flowering through the summer.