April Native Plant of the Month: California Buttercup
About California Buttercup
Each spring, Californians flock to see the magnificent yellow carpets of sourgrass and mustard flowers covering our hills and valleys. But have you ever experienced the iridescent blooms of our native California buttercup (Ranunculus californicus)? Their satiny, golden petals form inviting bowls for bees, ants, and butterflies to rest and have a sip of nectar after a long and cold winter.
Native people across California, including Miwok and Nisenan groups, dry and roast the seeds of California buttercup and grind them into a flour to make bread, cake, and porridge. Please note that buttercups are highly poisonous to humans and pets when fresh or improperly prepared. They can also cause skin irritation, so we encourage you to wear gloves when handling the plants.
How to Grow California Buttercup
This adaptable perennial often grows among grasses in sunny, open areas, as well as in woodlands or along creeks with dappled shade. They can tolerate a variety of soil conditions.
California buttercups thrive on natural rainfall during winter and spring, then die back and go dormant in the hot summer months. This means they need little to no supplemental irrigation once they are established (typically one to two years after planting). Potted plants may need slightly more watering since they cannot access deeper moisture in the ground, but also make sure not to overwater during dormancy to prevent rotting.
Because they go dormant, buttercups do best as accents to more year-round plants like California fescue (Festuca californica), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), and foothill sedge (Carex tumulicola).
How to Buy California Buttercup and other Native Plants
Our nursery grows native plants like California buttercup using seeds and cuttings carefully sourced from local watersheds. This month, several of our plants are discounted! See our latest inventory for online sales:
We will also be selling plants in person at the Wildflower Show at West Valley College on Saturday, April 22nd. Hope to see you there!
Other Readings
By Stanley Gu, Ecologist
