Ranunculus sceleratus
cursed crowfoot
Temperate Northern Hemisphere of Europe, Asia, and North America
Overview
Ranunculus sceleratus is an annual, occasionally biennial, member of the buttercup family found on wet mud and in shallow water. It has hollow, furrowed, hairless stems 4-24 inches (10-60 cm) tall, branching above into many small flowers. The lower leaves are glossy and divided into three broad, blunt lobes, while the upper leaves are narrower and less divided. From June to September it bears numerous small pale-yellow flowers 0.2-0.4 inches (5-10 mm) across, each with five short petals barely longer than the green sepals. As the flower fades, the central receptacle lengthens into a cylindrical head 0.3-0.5 inches (8-12 mm) long packed with tiny seeds. The plant grows on pond and ditch margins, marshy fields, and drying mud, favouring wet, nutrient-rich ground in full sun. The sap is strongly acrid: it contains protoanemonin and can blister or inflame skin on contact, and all parts are poisonous if eaten. As a short-lived annual it depends on seed and can flood bare wet mud with seedlings, then disappear as the ground dries.
Native Range
Native across the temperate Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, Asia, and North America. Common throughout Britain and Ireland on wet, muddy ground.Suggested Uses
Found at wildlife-pond margins, ditch edges, and wet meadow restoration rather than ornamental borders. It quickly colonises bare wet mud and feeds small insects in summer. The plant suits naturalistic wetland schemes where its self-seeding is wanted.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 2'
Width/Spread4" - 1'
Bloom Information
Flowers open from June to September on the much-branched upper stems. The small pale-yellow flowers are visited by flies and small bees, though they supply little reward. Flowering continues over a long season as the plant keeps branching while moisture lasts.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 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
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Ranunculus sceleratus grows in full sun on wet, fertile mud at the edges of ponds, ditches, and marshes, and in shallow standing water. It needs constant moisture and rich, silty ground and fails on dry or infertile soil. As an annual it is raised only from seed, which germinates on bare wet mud in spring. The plant completes its life cycle in a single season, setting abundant seed before the ground dries. Its sap is acrid and contains protoanemonin, which can irritate or blister skin. It is grown only in wildlife ponds and wet naturalistic settings, where it self-sows freely.Pruning
No pruning is practised on this short-lived annual. Plants are pulled or cut once flowering and seeding finish, or left to die back as the mud dries. Lifting plants before seed sets limits their spread.⚠️ Toxicity Warning
Toxic to pets and humansPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow
Direct Sow Timing
Spring, onto bare wet mud
Plant Spacing
6 inches