Cursed Buttercup: A Wildflower You Probably Don’t Want in Your Garden
With a name like cursed buttercup, you might already have a hunch that Ranunculus sceleratus var. sceleratus isn’t your typical garden darling. This small yellow wildflower has earned its ominous moniker for good reason, and while it’s technically native to much of the United States, it’s one native plant that most gardeners are better off admiring from a distance.
What is Cursed Buttercup?
Cursed buttercup is an annual to perennial forb in the buttercup family. Unlike its more ornamental cousins, this herbaceous wildflower is decidedly unglamorous, with small, pale yellow flowers and a rather weedy appearance. It’s also known by the scientific synonyms Hecatonia scelerata and Ranunculus sceleratus var. typicus, though most people simply call it cursed buttercup – and there’s wisdom in that curse.
Where Does It Grow?
This adaptable plant has an impressively wide distribution across North America. In the United States, you’ll find cursed buttercup growing wild in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, plus the District of Columbia.
Interestingly, while cursed buttercup is native to the lower 48 states, it’s considered non-native in Canada, where it grows in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland. It’s also found in St. Pierre and Miquelon.
- Species observed
- No observations
Why You Probably Don’t Want This Plant
Here’s where cursed buttercup lives up to its name. Despite being native to most of the US, this isn’t a plant you’ll want to welcome into your garden with open arms:
- Toxicity concerns: Like many buttercups, this plant contains compounds that can be irritating to skin and harmful if ingested
- Aggressive spreader: It reproduces readily and can quickly colonize disturbed, moist areas
- Limited ornamental value: The small, pale yellow flowers aren’t particularly showy or attractive
- Weedy appearance: It tends to look more like something you’d pull than something you’d plant
Growing Conditions
If cursed buttercup does appear in your landscape (and it might, whether you invite it or not), you’ll typically find it in moist to wet soils with poor drainage. It thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3-9 and tolerates partial sun to shade conditions. The plant is particularly fond of disturbed areas, pond margins, and anywhere water tends to collect.
Better Native Alternatives
Instead of cursed buttercup, consider these more garden-worthy native alternatives that offer similar growing conditions but much better ornamental value:
- Wild ginger (Asarum canadense): Beautiful heart-shaped leaves for shady, moist areas
- Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis): Stunning red blooms that attract hummingbirds
- Blue flag iris (Iris versicolor): Elegant purple flowers for wet areas
- Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata): Pink flowers beloved by monarchs and other pollinators
The Bottom Line
While cursed buttercup is technically native to most of the United States, it’s one of those natives that’s better appreciated in its natural wild habitat than in your carefully planned garden. Its tendency to spread aggressively, combined with its modest appearance and potential toxicity, makes it a poor choice for intentional cultivation.
If you encounter cursed buttercup growing wild in appropriate wetland habitats, you can appreciate it as part of the native ecosystem. But when it comes to your garden, there are so many more beautiful and well-behaved native plants that deserve your attention – and won’t live up to their cursed reputation!