Tall buttercup

Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.

Ranunculus acris

Introduced weed · not on state Lists A/B/C. C-floristic-2020 CO-rules-2025

Fresh plant irritation and animal poisoning hazard. Exposure help.

Identification caveat: The pet warning is genus-level evidence. It does not establish identical toxicity across every Ranunculus or justify blanket removal of native buttercups.

Still researching this plant

This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for People. Identification and source-photo limits are explained below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.

Three views of this plant

Source-identified reference photographs; these are not a complete identification key. A source location outside Colorado does not establish local occurrence.

**habit-flowers** — Meadow buttercup growing among grass, with yellow flowers held above deeply divided basal leaves.
Daniel Cahen · CC BY 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Explicit iNaturalist observation taxon and Research Grade community identification; photograph visually reviewed for depicted features. This is source identification, not a new independent botanical determination. Source identifies this plant to species; no variety or subspecies determination is asserted.
Downloaded iNaturalist large rendition; downloaded bytes retained unchanged. No local crop, retouching, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; catalog preview may use a CSS crop.

**leaves** — Deeply divided green basal leaves of meadow buttercup among surrounding grass.
Daniel Cahen · CC BY 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Explicit iNaturalist observation taxon and Research Grade community identification; photograph visually reviewed for depicted features. This is source identification, not a new independent botanical determination. Source identifies this plant to species; no variety or subspecies determination is asserted.
Downloaded iNaturalist large rendition; downloaded bytes retained unchanged. No local crop, retouching, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; catalog preview may use a CSS crop.

**fruit** — Cluster of green developing meadow buttercup achenes at the top of a slender stalk.
Daniel Cahen · CC BY 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Explicit iNaturalist observation taxon and Research Grade community identification; photograph visually reviewed for depicted features. This is source identification, not a new independent botanical determination. Source identifies this plant to species; no variety or subspecies determination is asserted.
Downloaded iNaturalist large rendition; downloaded bytes retained unchanged. No local crop, retouching, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; catalog preview may use a CSS crop.

Identification

An upright perennial of moist meadows and disturbed ground with glossy yellow flowers. Confirm the species: Colorado has many native buttercups as well. N-ranunculus-acris

People

NC State flags poisonous characteristics but presents livestock effects in its symptom field. Human exposure severity and a safe amount remain unresolved here. N-ranunculus-acris

Evidence scope: Source-field limitation.

Dogs & cats

ASPCA lists Ranunculus species as toxic to pets through an irritant toxin. Reported group-level signs include drooling, oral ulcers, vomiting, diarrhea and unsteady movement. P-buttercup

Evidence scope: Genus-level veterinary evidence.

Other animals

NC State reports mouth injury, diarrhea and potentially severe systemic effects in livestock ingesting this species. N-ranunculus-acris

Plants & habitat

A nonnative perennial that grows in moist meadows, pastures and roadsides. Its flowers also attract pollinating insects. N-ranunculus-acris

Management & timing

Confirm identity and prevent animal access to suspect plants or contaminated forage. Choose control for the site rather than treating every yellow buttercup as this species. N-ranunculus-acris P-buttercup

Evidence scope: Management synthesis.

Before taking action

Confirm identification and the requirements of your county weed program. For chemical treatment, follow the current product label, including restrictions around animals and water. S27

References

C-floristic-2020 — Colorado Floristic Quality Assessment: 2020 Update, Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University. Accessed 2026-09-07T02:27:33+00:00. Locator: Appendix B, Colorado species list: scientific name and native/non-native fields.
CO-rules-2025 — Colorado Noxious Weed Act rules, 8 CCR 1206-2, Colorado Secretary of State / Department of Agriculture. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:07:48+00:00. Locator: Parts 3.1, 4.1, 5.1; management provisions; effective May 15, 2025.
N-ranunculus-acris — Ranunculus acris, NC State Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T02:23:13+00:00. Locator: Description, identification attributes and plant problems; toxicity section where present.
P-buttercup — Buttercup, ASPCA Animal Poison Control. Accessed 2026-09-07T02:26:11+00:00. Locator: Named species or genus; identification, distribution and hazard sections where available.
S27 — 2103 – Colorado Noxious Weeds, PlantTalk Colorado · CSU Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:57+00:00. Locator: List A, B and C management categories.

Content revised 2026-09-07 02:43:00Z · Source checks dated separately in the references.