Quercus

Swamp Buttercup

Ranunculus carolinianus

Native to South Carolina (estimated)

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

4CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including SC

Genus host records with ranges including SC · Ranunculus

  • Herpetogramma pertextalisBold-Feathered Grass Moth
  • Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
  • Pyrrhia exprimensPurple-Lined Sallow, Purple-Lined Sun Moth
  • Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
20BeesSoutheastern regional records
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
13BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Ranunculus

  • Anthus rubescensAmerican Pipit
  • Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
  • Calcarius lapponicusLapland Longspur
  • Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail
  • Centrocercus urophasianusGreater Sage-Grouse
  • Cygnus buccinatorTrumpeter Swan
  • Dendrocygna bicolorFulvous Whistling-Duck
  • Fulica americanaAmerican Coot
  • Lagopus leucuraWhite-tailed Ptarmigan
  • Lagopus mutaRock Ptarmigan
Show all 13
  • Mareca americanaAmerican Wigeon
  • Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
  • Plectrophenax nivalisSnow Bunting
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
Beetles 3
  • Asclera ruficollis
  • Centrinus perscillus
  • Idiostethus subcalvus

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

Flies 11
  • Anthomyia radicum
  • Bombylius pulchellus
  • Morellia micans
  • Mydaea diruta
  • Pipiza femoralis
  • Siphona geniculata
  • Sphaerophoria cylindrica
  • Syrphus americanus
  • Syrphus arcuatus
  • Syrphus ribesii
Show all 11
  • Syrphus torvus

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

Adult butterflies / moths 3
  • Thanaos brizo
  • Thanaos juvenalis
  • Thorybes bathyllus

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

No records yet · Ants · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Ranunculaceae
Hardiness
Zones 5a–8b
Flower color
Yellow

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Bristly Buttercup; Carolina Buttercup; Ranunculus carolinianus; Ranunculus hispidus var. nitidus

Conservation status

South Carolina rankNot available
Global rankG5T5 [G5]
SC statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

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Sources