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Lawn and Turfgrass Weeds: Creeping Buttercup

Creeping buttercup is a stoloniferous plant that spreads through thin turf forming patches in lawns and parks.

Updated:

December 16, 2019

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Creeping buttercup growing in a partially shaded lawn. Photo: Peter Landschoot, Penn State

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This weed is frequently found in poorly drained, wet soils, and sunny or shaded areas. It is most noticeable when flowering during spring and summer.

Creeping buttercup growing in a poorly drained lawn near a pond. Photo: Peter Landschoot, Penn State

Life cycle

Creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens L.) belongs to the Ranunculaceae family and is classified as a perennial. New plants form a rosette of leaves and stems, with some stems functioning as stolons. Stolons grow prostrate along the soil surface, producing shoots and roots at nodes. Creeping buttercup plants form yellow flowers in May and June, which eventually produce seeds. Seeds can give rise to new plants.

Rosette of creeping buttercup. Photo: Peter Landschoot, Penn State

Identification

Some creeping buttercup leaves have three leaflets, whereas others are simple with three lobes and deep sinuses. Leaflets are somewhat variable in shape, ranging from wedge-shape to oval. The center leaflet is often extended on a short stalk. Individual mature leaves are typically 1.5 to 3 inches long and 1 to 1.5 inches wide. Leaf surfaces are dark green, frequently with light spots or blotches. Margins of leaflets are coarsely serrated towards the top with relatively deep sinuses. Leaf and flower stems are slightly hairy and red or purple near the crown.

Leaves of creeping buttercup showing three leaflets with serrated margins and deep sinuses. The central leaflet on some leaves is positioned on a short stalk. Photo: Peter Landschoot, Penn State

Flower stems give rise to single flowers, approximately ½ to ¾ inch in diameter. Flowers are bright yellow, with five to seven rounded, overlapping petals. Clusters of stamens and pistils are in the center of flowers.

Yellow flowers of creeping buttercup showing overlapping petals and multiple stamens in the center. Photo: Peter Landschoot, Penn State

Management and control

Creeping buttercup infestations can be reduced by improving turf density through fertilization, regular mowing, improved drainage, reducing irrigation, and use of turfgrasses well-adapted to site conditions. This weed can be suppressed or controlled with various postemergence herbicides.

Some postemergence herbicide products labeled for control of creeping buttercup.

Active ingredients	Product name(s)*
2,4-D and 2,4-DP	Patron 170 (ester formulation)
2,4-D, 2,4-DP, and dicamba	Super Trimec (ester formulation)
2,4-D, clopyralid, and dicamba	Millennium Ultra 2**
2,4-D, fluroxypyr, and dicamba	Escalade 2
2,4-D, fluroxypyr, triclopyr, and flumioxazin	Sure Power (ester formulation)
2,4-D, MCPP, dicamba	Trimec Classic
2,4-D, MCPP, dicamba, and carfentrazone-ethyl	Speedzone
2,4-D, MCPP, dicamba, and sulfentrazone	Surge
2,4-D, dicamba, and quinclorac	Quincept; 2DQ Herbicide; Triad QC Select, Triad SFZ Select
2,4-D, quinclorac, dicamba, and sulfentrazone	Q4 Plus
2,4-D and triclopyr	Chaser 2 Amine, Turflon II Amine
2,4-D and triclopyr	Chaser Turf Herbicide (ester formulation)
2,4-D, fluroxypyr, and triclopyr	Momentum FX2
2,4-D, fluroxypyr, triclopyr, and sulfentrazone	Momentum 4-Score
2,4-D, triclopyr, dicamba, and pyraflufen-ethyl	4-Speed XT (ester formulation)
2,4-D, triclopyr, dicamba, and sulfentrazone	Foundation
fluroxypyr, dicamba, and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl	Last Call Selective Herbicide
2,4-D, triclopyr, dicamba, and sulfentrazone	Tzone SE (ester formuation)
MCPA, fluroxypyr, and dicamba	Change Up
MCPA, fluroxypyr, and triclopyr	Battleship III
MCPA, MCPP, and dicamba	Trimec Encore, Tri-Power Selective Herbicide
MCPA, MCPP, dicamba, and carfentrazone-ethyl	Powerzone (ester formulation)
MCPA, triclopyr, and dicamba	Lesco Three-Way Ester II, Cool Power (ester formulation)
MCPA, triclopyr, and dicamba	Eliminate, Horsepower
mesotrione	Tenacity
quinclorac and carfentrazone-ethyl	SquareOne