In the cottage garden, wild perennial beds and pots, the bright yellow buttercup competes with the sun to shine. As a swarming pasture for bees and butterflies, the distinctive flower sensibly rounds off the planting plan for the natural garden. Explore here how to properly cultivate natural beauty and properly adjust to its poisonous trait.

The buttercup shows its bright yellow flowers in late spring

Table of Contents

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  1. Plant buttercup properly
  2. care tips
  3. Which location is suitable?
  4. The right planting distance
  5. What soil does the plant need?
  6. When is flowering time?
  7. Cut the buttercup properly
  8. Water buttercup
  9. Fertilize buttercups properly
  10. hibernate
  11. Propagating Buttercup
  12. How do I plant correctly?
  13. Buttercup in pot
  14. Is buttercup poisonous?
  15. Are buttercups and dandelion identical?
  16. trivia
  17. Beautiful varieties

    18. Plant buttercup properly

    Planting time for buttercups is spring or fall. In advance, place the still potted root ball in water until no more air bubbles rise. Meanwhile, the fresh, moist, humus-rich soil is being weeded and raked in the sunny location. Dig small pits at a distance of 40-50 cm to enrich the soil with compost and horn shavings.(32.93€) Now unpot the soaked young plant and plant the flower up to just below the lower pair of leaves. Press the substrate down with your hands and water. Finally, mulch with leaves, grass clippings or bark mulch to keep the soil warm and moist longer. When planting, please bear in mind that all parts of the wild perennial are poisonous and put on protective gloves.

    care tips

    You can let the wild buttercup grow in the garden without any horticultural intervention. In order to strengthen the floral backing of the distinctive perennial, we recommend the following short care program:

    • Keep the soil and potting substrate slightly moist at all times
    • Start fertilizing in March/April with compost and horn shavings
    • Spoil potted flowers with liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks from April to August
    • Trim wilted flower stalks down to the basal foliage
    • Cut back close to the ground in autumn when all the leaves are gone

    In the open air, the buttercup gets through the cold season without any precautions. Pots, on the other hand, should be covered with foil and placed on wood. Leaves or peat dust protect the substrate from the rigors of winter.

    Which location is suitable?

    In full sun to shade, the buttercup provides a bright yellow rendezvous throughout the summer. She particularly likes warm and wind-protected places. In fresh to moist soil, humus, loose and well-drained, you will experience a natural perennial in top form.

    The right planting distance

    A single buttercup seems lost and lonely. In small tuffs or together with other wild perennials, the flower unfolds its true potential. In order for the picturesque appearance to succeed in perfection, it is not least important to have the right planting distance. If you plant the perennial at a distance of 40-50 cm, you are exactly right. For an area-wide planting, we recommend 4-6 specimens per square meter.

    What soil does the plant need?

    The buttercup favors any normal garden soil, fresh to moist and humus-loose. As long as the delicate goldhead doesn't have to deal with dry, sandy or waterlogged soil, it transforms the bed into a sea of yellow flowers. In pot culture, we recommend a good quality compost-based potting soil with a low peat content. Add some lava granules (€13.99) sand or expanded clay (€19.73) for first-class permeability.

    When is flowering time?

    The buttercup delights us with its lacquered, bright yellow bowl-shaped flowers from May to July. If you regularly clean the withered flower stalks down to the first leaf, the flower festival will last into August. Never dispose of the clippings on cattle pastures or paddocks, as the fresh plant parts are highly toxic. Only when they are dried as part of hay do they no longer pose a risk.

    Cut the buttercup properly

    There are 3 occasions when we use scissors to cut the buttercup. Once it has blossomed and cut off to 3 fingers above the ground, the flower is excellent for drying. If you consistently cut out withered flower stalks down to the stalked basal leaves, a fresh shoot will find its way into the light of the sun. If the weather cooperates, this simple trick will extend the flowering period into late summer. If the perennial has drawn in its above-ground plant parts in autumn, cut the buttercup down to the ground. Only dispose of clippings in the compost if cows, horses, rabbits, dogs or cats do not have access to the toxic green waste.

    Water buttercup

    Water a buttercup regularly whenever the soil has dried out. If the delicate flower suffers from drought stress, it sadly bends the cup blossoms to the ground. Although the perennial likes a slightly moist soil, waterlogging should not occur. In the pot, daily watering may be necessary on warm summer days.

    Fertilize buttercups properly

    In the humus-rich garden soil, the nutrient supply is limited to an initial fertilization in March/April with compost and horn shavings. In the pot, the nutrient reserves of pre-fertilized soil are used up after 4-6 weeks. Then fertilize the buttercup every 2-3 weeks with a liquid preparation until the end of the flowering period.

    hibernate

    The native perennial pulls in its above-ground plant parts in autumn. The subterranean rhizome survives freezing temperatures down to -28.8 degrees Celsius without damage. Special precautions for overwintering in the bed are therefore not necessary. If the buttercup thrives in a pot or balcony box, the rather thin walls do not really keep out the frost. Therefore, wrap planters in bubble wrap and place them on wood. A layer of autumn leaves, straw or peat moss on the substrate protects the root ball from above. Water the plant from time to time to prevent the soil from drying out completely.

    Propagating Buttercup

    An unbeatably simple method of propagating buttercups is by dividing the root ball. How to do it right:

    • In spring or autumn, lift the shrub out of the ground with a digging fork or spade
    • Shake or shower off all soil from the rhizome
    • Place the root ball on a firm surface to cut it up (don't forget gloves)
    • Any segment with 2 eyes or more has the floral power to transform into an adult buttercup

    In a sunny location, plant the sections 40-50 cm apart just as deep as they were in the ground before. A layer of mulch and regular watering support rapid rooting.

    How do I plant correctly?

    A buttercup grows like a clump from a network of roots that does not form any runners. So nothing speaks against a change of location. Choose a date in spring or fall to dig up the root ball. On this occasion, older perennials can be excellently rejuvenated and propagated by division. Plant the perennial in the new location in the fresh, moist soil enriched with compost and water generously. A mulch layer of leaves, grass clippings or bark mulch promotes growth. Since the roots have the highest poison content, this work requires special attention.

    Buttercup in pot

    In pot culture, the buttercup thrives vigorously and luxuriantly if you use compost-based potting soil with a stable structure. If you place a curved potsherd over the water drain, no excess irrigation water can accumulate here. A pouring edge of 2 cm prevents flooding on the balcony. The care program at a glance:

    • Water buttercups regularly as soon as the substrate has dried
    • Pour out the coaster after a few minutes to avoid waterlogging
    • Fertilize every 2-3 weeks from April until the end of the flowering period
    • Trim wilted flower stalks down to the basal foliage
    • Repot in fresh substrate in March

    If the plant has drawn in all its leaves in autumn, cut the perennial close to the ground. Before the first frost, wrap the pot in bubble wrap and place it on a block of wood. The substrate is given a protective layer of leaves or straw. Water the root ball from time to time to keep it from drying out completely.

    Is buttercup poisonous?

    The buttercup should be treated with caution in terms of its ingredients. All parts of the buttercup plant are so poisonous that in the past there have been fatalities after eating the flowers, leaves and roots. Point out the danger to your children, because the unusual flowers in the meadows will tempt you to use them to make a wreath or bouquet. Even skin contact with fresh plant sap causes severe itching, swelling with blistering and necrosis. We therefore recommend wearing gloves for all planting and care work. When dried, the toxins have evaporated.
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    Are buttercups and dandelion identical?

    They both boast bright yellow flowers and bloom at the same time for many weeks throughout the summer. No wonder yellow ranunculus and dandelion are simultaneously referred to as buttercups. While yellow buttercups are welcome in the garden as a near-natural perennial, dandelion is a weed that is fought with vehemence. The distinctive feature is the flower shape. Yellow buttercup sets the scene with yellow, lacquered cup flowers. On the other hand, 3-5 cm wide capsicum flowers with numerous yellow ray florets thrive on the dandelion. In late summer, these turn into spherical, airy seed heads, which is why dandelion is also known as dandelion. In addition, both plants differ in terms of their height. Yellow buttercups stretch 50-70 cm towards the sky, while dandelions reach 10-20 cm. An elementary distinguishing feature is not visible. Yellow ranunculus is highly toxic fresh in all parts. Dandelion, on the other hand, can be consumed without hesitation.
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    trivia

    Among other things, the vernacular calls the buttercup beggar's buttercup. In the distant past, beggars rubbed visible parts of their skin with the toxic plant sap to arouse pity through the rashes and wounds and to collect more alms.

    Beautiful varieties

    The buttercup is one of the few perennials whose natural charm can hardly be enhanced by the hand of the grower. As a result, in addition to the wild species, only the following two hybrids can be discovered in the garden center:

    • Multiplex: The historic variety impresses with bulging gold knobs from May to July; Growth height 50-70 cm
    • Citrinus: A creamy white to light yellow flowering buttercup, profusely branching and robust; Growth height 40-60 cm

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Herbs