← Back to Plant Finder

Pennsylvania Buttercup
Ranunculus pensylvanicus

Pennsylvania Buttercup is a common wetland plant that produces delicate five-petaled flowers throughout the summer. A short-lived perennial, it does best in wet soils and full sun.

USDA symbol: RAPE2

General Information

Plant TypeForb
Height4 feet
Light ExposureSun, Part Sun, Shade
Soil MoistureWet
Bloom ColorYellow
Pennsylvania Buttercup (Pennsylvania Buttercup<div><em class="small">Ranunculus pensylvanicus</em></div>)
Photo credit: Minnesota Wildflowers (Click to enlarge)

Tolerances

Flooding / Inundation ToleranceModerate
General Resilience7
Salt ToleranceNone
Stress ToleranceFire Tolerant

Pollinator Value: Medium

Bloom MonthsJune to August
Pollinator BenefitInsect Pollinated, Provides Nectar, Supports Generalists

Project Planning

Project TypeRestoration
Coefficient of Conservatism5
Herbivore SensitivityMedium
LifespanPerennial
Rate of SpreadSlow
Soil StabilizationShallow
Vegetative ReproductionClonal

Range

CountyAitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dodge, Douglas, Fillmore, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Lincoln, Marshall, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright
EcoregionDriftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Glaciated Plains, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains
Approximate Eco ProvinceEastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands