Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Ranunculus glaberrimus (Sagebrush Buttercup) is a small plant native to interior western North America, from central British Columbia east to southern Saskatchewan, southwest to northeastern California, and southeast to northern New Mexico. It prefers habitat near junipers (Juniperus occidentalis) and sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) in damp ground. It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 5-26 centimeter tall. The leaves are oval, sometimes with rounded teeth at the end. The flowers are bright glossy yellow, usually with five petals but sometimes ten or more, the petals 6-15 millimeter long and 4-8 millimeter broad. It is among the first flowers to bloom after the snow has melted.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

2 - 11 in Tall

Form

Mounding

Growth rate

Moderate

Calscape icon
Color

Yellow

Flowering season

Spring

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water

Moderate

Soil description

Prefers loamy soils.

Site type

Open places, rocky meadows

Plant communities

Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Sagebrush Scrub, Subalpine Forest, Yellow Pine Forest, Wetland-Riparian

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 2 likely

Confirmed Likely

White Triangle Tortrix

Clepsis persicana

Purple-Lined Sallow

Pyrrhia exprimens