Ranunculus flammula
lesser spearwort
Europe, North Africa, and western Asia
Overview
Ranunculus flammula is a perennial of wet ground in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, with hollow stems 3-20 inches (8-50 cm) long that creep and root at the lower nodes before turning up to flower. Unlike most buttercups, its leaves are narrow and undivided, lance- to spear-shaped, 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) long, the lowest on long stalks and the upper ones stalkless. From June to October it bears glossy yellow, five-petalled flowers 0.3-0.8 inch (8-20 mm) across on slender, furrowed stalks, each followed by a rounded head of small dry seeds. The rooting stems let it spread into low, open mats at the water's edge. The species grows in marshes, wet meadows, pond and ditch margins, bogs, and the shallows of lakes across Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, on permanently damp, acidic to neutral soils. It needs wet ground and full sun and fails on dry sites, and like other spearworts its sap is acrid and poisonous, blistering skin and harmful to grazing animals if eaten in quantity.
Native Range
Native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, from Iceland and Scandinavia south to the Mediterranean. It grows in marshes, wet meadows, fens, bogs, ditch and pond margins, and the muddy shallows of lakes and streams on permanently wet, acidic to neutral soils.Suggested Uses
Grown at the margins of wildlife ponds, in bog gardens, and in damp, boggy borders, where its long succession of yellow flowers feeds insects. It suits naturalistic waterside plantings and helps clothe bare mud at a pond edge. Its spreading habit suits informal wet areas rather than confined containers.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3" - 1'8"
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Bloom Information
Flowering is long, running from June to October, with single yellow flowers opening in succession on branched, furrowed stalks. The flowers are visited by bees, hoverflies, and beetles, and are followed by rounded heads of small seeds. Plants often keep flowering until the first frosts.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Ranunculus flammula grows in full sun to light shade on permanently wet or waterlogged ground, including pond margins, bog gardens, and shallow water to about 4 inches (10 cm) deep. It needs soil that never dries out and tolerates acidic, peaty, and nutrient-poor conditions, but fails on ordinary dry borders. The creeping, rooting stems spread it steadily, and it is easily increased by division or by detaching rooted pieces in spring. It needs no feeding in fertile wetland mud and is cut back only to control its spread. The acrid sap can irritate skin, and the foliage is poisonous to livestock, though its bitter taste usually deters grazing. Plants may be short-lived but renew themselves by rooting and self-seeding.Pruning
No formal pruning is needed. Stems can be cut or pulled back in summer to stop the rooting mats spreading beyond their place, and old growth is cleared in late autumn or early spring. Dividing congested clumps at the same time keeps them vigorous.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons