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Ranunculus repens

Creeping Buttercup · Double-flowered Creeping Buttercup · Creeping Crowfoot

Family RanunculaceaeGenus Ranunculus

A meadow yellow with buttercups, with a close view of one flower inset
The whole plantW. BulachCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Safety

Toxicity
Poisonous to cattle, goats, horses. All parts. Protoanemonin. Stated for Ranunculus spp.Plants Poisonous to Livestock

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous perennialPlant Finder
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
0.75-1 ft25-30 cmPlant Finder
Spread
2-3 ft60-90 cmPlant Finder
Flower
Showy; yellowPlant Finder
Blooms
May to AugustPlant Finder
Native range
EurasiaPlant Finder
Hardiness zones
4-9Plant Finder
Note
Tolerates heavy shade and wet soil. Spreads aggressively by runners.Plant Finder

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun to part shadePlant Finder
Soil
Average, medium to wetPlant Finder
Soil pH
5.6-7.2PLANTS Database
Moisture
Moisture use: MediumPLANTS Database
Watering
MediumPlant Finder

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Plants Poisonous to Livestock — Cornell University Department of Animal Science.

Worth knowing

  • It creeps by stolons that root at the nodes and start new plants. Once sold around the world as an ornamental, it is now invasive in many places. Wikipedia: Ranunculus repens

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow on the surface — do not cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

85% germination in 14 days.

Fresh or dry-stored, either. The seed waits in the dark and goes as soon as it sees light.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, RanunculusPublic domain
Show the original text
Ranunculus (Ranunculaceae). Germination was remarkably varied A. repens required light. The seed can be started in light at 70 or shifted to light anytime during at least five cycles. Germination is 85% in the 2nd w using fresh seed or seed DS 6 m at 70. Germination:irl the dark is under 3% after five cycles.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ranunculus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    Under 3% over five cycles.

No stated waiting before sowing.

Under 3% after five cycles. Deno gives no figure, only that bound.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, RanunculusPublic domain
Show the original text
Ranunculus (Ranunculaceae). Germination was remarkably varied A. repens required light. The seed can be started in light at 70 or shifted to light anytime during at least five cycles. Germination is 85% in the 2nd w using fresh seed or seed DS 6 m at 70. Germination:irl the dark is under 3% after five cycles.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ranunculus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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