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Bristly Buttercup

Ranunculus hispidus

Last reviewed: August 2026

Bristly Buttercup is a spring blooming forb of moist woods, floodplains and stream banks across much of the eastern and central United States, producing glossy yellow flowers from April through June.

Bristly Buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus)
Photo: (c) Joseph McPhail, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Joseph McPhail

Bristly Buttercup is toxic to dogs and cats.

Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435and your veterinarian's emergency line.

Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Bristly Buttercup as toxic to livestock.

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

6"–18" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

Apr, May, Jun

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 21 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Cross TimbersEast Central Texas PlainsSouth Central PlainsEastern Temperate ForestsOzark HighlandsCentral Irregular PlainsPiedmontWestern Corn Belt PlainsNorthern Lakes and ForestsNorth Central Hardwood ForestsDriftless AreaSoutheastern Wisconsin Till PlainsCentral Corn Belt PlainsEastern Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsHuron/Erie Lake PlainsNortheastern HighlandsNortheastern Coastal ZoneNorthern Allegheny PlateauErie Drift PlainNorthern ForestsMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNorthern PiedmontSoutheastern PlainsBlue RidgeRidge and ValleyCentral AppalachiansWestern Allegheny PlateauInterior PlateauInterior River Valleys and HillsMississippi Alluvial PlainSouthern Coastal PlainEastern Great Lakes LowlandsAtlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Bristly buttercup is a low-growing native wildflower that produces bright yellow, five-petaled flowers from April through June. This compact perennial spreads slowly to form small patches and goes dormant in summer heat, leaving bare spots until the following spring.

Growing Bristly Buttercup

Grow Bristly Buttercup in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 6 to 18 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Bristly Buttercup takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Goes completely dormant in summer leaving bare patches
  • Common name 'buttercup' may trigger weed concerns
  • Can spread unpredictably

Wildlife value

The cheerful yellow blooms provide early-season nectar for native bees and beetles when few other flowers are available. The plant offers important spring pollinator support during a critical time of year.

Common questions

When does Bristly Buttercup bloom?
Bristly Buttercup blooms in spring, typically from April through June, with glossy yellow five petaled flowers.
What pollinators visit Bristly Buttercup?
Bees and beetles are the main visitors to Bristly Buttercup, feeding on pollen and nectar from its bright yellow flowers.
What growing conditions suit Bristly Buttercup best?
This forb does well in part sun with medium moisture, and is often found along stream banks, in floodplain woods, and in seasonally damp meadows.
Does Bristly Buttercup stay green year round?
No, it is a deciduous herbaceous perennial that dies back to the ground after the growing season and returns from its roots each spring.
Is Bristly Buttercup toxic to dogs?
Yes. Bristly Buttercup is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Is Bristly Buttercup toxic to cats?
Yes. Bristly Buttercup is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Is Bristly Buttercup toxic to livestock?
The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Bristly Buttercup as toxic to livestock.
Is Bristly Buttercup HOA-friendly?
Bristly Buttercup takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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