# Woolly Buttercup (*Ranunculus lanuginosus*)

Woolly Buttercup is a bright yellow flower that loves to grow in wet places. Its fuzzy leaves and cheerful blooms make it a lovely sight in springtime!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Wetlands

![Woolly Buttercup](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/3312634/medium.jpg)

Photo: Boris Gaberšček, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/3312634)

## Appearance

The Woolly Buttercup has striking bright yellow, glossy flowers with five petals, perched on tall, fuzzy stems. Its deeply lobed leaves are covered in soft hairs, giving it a distinctive 'woolly' texture different from most other buttercups.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Ranunculales
- **Family:** Ranunculaceae
- **Genus:** Ranunculus

## Interesting facts

- If you hold a buttercup under your chin and it casts a yellow glow, it means you like butter!
- Its name \*Ranunculus\* means 'little frog' because it often loves to grow near wet places!
- The petals are so shiny, they can actually reflect sunlight, making the flowers seem to glow!
- The tiny hairs on its stem and leaves make it feel fuzzy, almost like a plant wearing a soft coat!

## Special abilities

- **Fuzzy Armor:** Woolly Buttercup has soft, hairy stems and leaves that protect it from cold and help it keep water in dry weather.
- **Toxic Taste:** Woolly Buttercup creates a bitter, irritating sap that discourages hungry animals from eating its leaves and flowers.
- **Rhizome Power:** Woolly Buttercup has underground stems called rhizomes that help it spread easily and survive tough conditions.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 20-60 cm
- **Spread:** 15-30 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1.5-2.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Moderate
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — visits flowers for nectar
- **Eaten by:** [Black slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — may occasionally graze on leaves

## Traits

- [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult, as some can be tricky!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Woolly Buttercup?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Woolly Buttercup?

20-60 cm

### How wide does Woolly Buttercup spread?

15-30 cm

### How big are the flowers on Woolly Buttercup?

1.5-2.5 cm

### When does Woolly Buttercup bloom?

Late spring to early summer

### Is Woolly Buttercup edible?

No

### Is Woolly Buttercup toxic?

Moderate

### What is Woolly Buttercup's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Woolly Buttercup: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/woolly-buttercup)