Bulbous Buttercup: Identification and Management

• Growth habit: clump-forming; a basal rosette of foliage arises from a corm (thickened underground stem); while in bloom, the plant may be about 8 to 24 inches tall, but regularly-mown plants can be shorter
• Flowers: rich yellow, with 5 to 7 glossy petals
  • greenish sepals bend backwards towards the stem (sepals are modified leaf-like structures that are located immediately underneath/behind the petals)
  • the base of the flower stem is hairy
  • flowers are about ½ inch to just over 1 inch wide
  • one flower per bloom stalk
• Leaves: foliage at the base of the plant differs in shape and size than foliage higher on the stem or flower stalk
  • basal leaves have a long, hairy petiole
  • basal leaves have a roughly rounded shape and are divided into 3 main sections; the center section has a short stalk compared to the other two sections that connect directly to the petiole (leaf stem)
  • the basal leaf edges have prominent, smaller lobes
  • upper leaves are smaller overall, have fewer divisions, and lack a petiole (they attach directly to the stem); leaf lobes tend to be more long and slender
  • alternate leaf arrangement

Bulbous buttercup is a perennial: it lives for several years. Blooms primarily appear in mid- to late spring (April-May).

Bulbous buttercup primarily spreads by seed, but corms can also overwinter.

Bulbous buttercup prefers sunny sites in dry, well-drained soil. It more easily colonizes lawns grown in poor soil with insufficient nutrients or supplemental fertilizer.

General lawn care practices that discourage weeds

Maintain healthy, dense turf that can compete with weeds and prevent weed germination and establishment. Fertilize the lawn as recommended (based on season and turf type), mow high, and overseed cool-season lawns each autumn to keep the lawn dense and better able to crowd-out seedling weeds. Core-aerate to reduce soil compaction, which not only improves drainage but also helps drying soils absorb moisture. Learn about fertilizing, mowing, overseeding, and aeration in the resource: Maintaining an Established Lawn.

Lawn care and maintenance

Mechanical management

Remove bulbous buttercup plants with a manual weeding tool that can dig deep enough so that the entire corm is removed. Doing this when the soil is moist makes the task easier. Pulling up or digging out individual plants is a viable option at the beginning of an infestation (when the plants are not yet abundant).

Manage Weeds Without Chemicals

Chemical management

Herbicide use should always be a last resort when managing weeds. Check for any local pesticide restrictions before buying and applying a product. For example, the Montgomery County pesticide law does not allow most synthetic pesticides (which includes herbicides) to be used on lawns. The active ingredient glyphosate is also prohibited on lawns in Baltimore City.

Learn about herbicide classifications and terminology:

Herbicide Options for Managing Common Lawn Weeds

Post-emergent herbicide

Spot-treat individual bulbous buttercup plants or infested areas with a liquid, broadleaf, post-emergent weed killer product applied when the weeds are actively growing in the spring. Look for a product with one or more of the following active ingredients: 2,4-D, MCPP (mecoprop), dicamba, or triclopyr. An application of non-selective herbicide may work, but would also damage any turfgrass exposed to the herbicide.

CAUTION: Do not spray herbicides containing dicamba over the root zone of desirable trees and shrubs. Roots or leaves may absorb this ingredient and be substantially damaged. Refer to the product label for other precautions.