Ranunculus populago
Cusick's buttercup
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Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Ranunculus populago (Cusick's buttercup) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by green sepals and simple leaves.
Cusick's buttercup is a California native perennial found in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains and northern California Ranges in wet meadows, streams, and shallow water at elevations of 1,500 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces white flowers with 5 to 6 petals 4 to 9 millimeters long. Growing 8 to 30 centimeters tall with erect or ascending stems that do not root at nodes, it has distinctive basal and lower cauline leaves 1.2 to 5.1 centimeters long and 1.5 to 2.9 centimeters wide. Its leaves are semicircular to heart-shaped with entire or slightly scalloped edges and widely acute to rounded tips, emerging from cordate or obtuse bases.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 36 sympatric species; green sepals and simple leaves are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet ground, shallow water, wet meadows, streams
Elevation: 1500-2500 m
Outside California: to Washington, Montana
Bloom period
Ranunculus populago blooms Jun-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Lasthenia: Ranunculus has separate petals around a central disk; Lasthenia has many tiny ray flowers around a disk (composite head).; vs Bowlesia: Ranunculus has glossy yellow petals in conspicuous flowers; Bowlesia has tiny white flowers in umbels with divided leaves.; vs Potentilla: Ranunculus has nectaries at petal bases and many pistils; Potentilla has no nectaries and styles attached to ovary sides.; vs Papaver: Ranunculus has 5 petals and many pistils; Papaver has 4 crinkled petals and a single large stigma disk.; vs Oxalis: Ranunculus has glossy separate petals; Oxalis has clover-like leaves and tubular flowers that close at night.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ranunculus populago native to California?
Yes. Ranunculus populago is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ranunculus populago bloom?
Ranunculus populago blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Ranunculus populago belong to?
Ranunculus populago is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Ranunculus.
What habitat does Ranunculus populago grow in?
Ranunculus populago grows in Wet ground, shallow water, wet meadows, streams.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.