Flower profile
Hairy buttercup
Ranunculus sardous
Hairy buttercup is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. In Arkansas it's most often seen in bloom in March–June.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Arkansas
Quick look
Ranunculus sardous is a species of buttercup known by the common name hairy buttercup. It is native to Europe and it can be found in many other areas of the world, including parts of the United States and Australia, as an introduced species and a roadside and lawn weed. It grows in many types of disturbed habitat, especially in moist areas.
- It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual, biennial, perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 26 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as not native to Arkansas. NatureServe
- In Arkansas, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–June. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 564 research-grade sightings of it in Arkansas, ranking #99 among the 109 flowers on our Arkansas list. iNaturalist
Hairy buttercup gift ideas
Handmade hairy buttercup gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Hairy buttercup art print
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Hairy buttercup greeting card
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Hairy buttercup mug
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Hairy buttercup earrings
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Hairy buttercup embroidery pattern
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Hairy buttercup sticker
When does it bloom?
In Arkansas, most flowering sightings come in March–June.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
- Arkansas
- No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Arkansas.
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, sap/juice, stems. Symptoms they list: “Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, oral ulcers and wobbly gait” NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “Buttercup” (Ranunculus spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, oral ulcers and wobbly… ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records hairy buttercup in 26 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia.
Arkansas counties with USDA records: Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Clark, Clay, Cleveland, Craighead, Crawford, Crittenden, Cross, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Franklin, Garland, Grant, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lincoln, Little River, Logan, Lonoke, Mississippi, Monroe, Montgomery, Nevada, Ouachita, Perry, Pike, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Stone, Union, Washington, Woodruff, Yell.
More Arkansas flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile RASA.
- iNaturalist, Ranunculus sardous: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Ranunculus sardous (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Arkansas: Arkansas State Plant Board noxious weeds and prohibited plants (2 CAR § 50-101).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Ranunculus sardous (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Gordon C. Snelling via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.