Creeping Buttercup
Perennial & invasive weed
Creeping buttercup is a glossy-flowered perennial that can turn damp lawns and borders into a dense mat. Although cheerful in flower, it spreads quickly by runners and is difficult to remove once established. It thrives where soil stays moist or compacted, and it often exploits thin grass, neglected edges and overcrowded beds.
How to identify it
It has three-lobed, dark green leaves on long stalks, each lobe divided or toothed, and bright yellow flowers with a polished shine. Flowering stems usually stand 15-50 cm high from April into summer. The key feature is its creeping runners, or stolons, which trail across the surface and root at nodes to form new plants. Fine roots and short crowns develop at each rooted point, creating an interconnected patch.
Where it grows
This weed is widespread in UK gardens, especially on damp lawns, around ponds, shady borders, heavy clay soil and poorly drained allotment edges. New growth starts in spring, runners spread through summer, and rooted pieces can survive winter. It is most troublesome where grass is sparse or cultivation leaves moist bare soil.
Why it is a problem
A creeping buttercup patch smothers low-growing plants and weakens lawn grass by forming a dense cover. Every runner can make several new rooted plants, so a small clump spreads beyond its original position quickly. It is also difficult to hoe cleanly in crowded beds because fragments of runner can be missed.
How to control it
Fork out plants when soil is moist enough to release roots, tracing every runner and lifting rooted nodes as well as the original crown. Do not chop runners into the soil during digging. In open beds, hoe tiny seedlings on a dry day and apply a generous organic mulch after clearing. Improve drainage and relieve compaction where practical, then overseed thin lawn areas. Revisit regularly throughout the season, removing new runners before they root.
Commonly confused with
Creeping buttercup can be mistaken for bulbous buttercup or meadow buttercup. Its rooted surface runners are the clearest distinction. Bulbous buttercup has a swollen base, while meadow buttercup grows more upright and does not make spreading, rooting stolons.
Creeping Buttercup: frequently asked questions
How do I identify creeping buttercup?
It has three-lobed, dark green leaves on long stalks, each lobe divided or toothed, and bright yellow flowers with a polished shine.
How do I get rid of creeping buttercup?
Fork out plants when soil is moist enough to release roots, tracing every runner and lifting rooted nodes as well as the original crown.
Where does creeping buttercup grow?
This weed is widespread in UK gardens, especially on damp lawns, around ponds, shady borders, heavy clay soil and poorly drained allotment edges.
General guidance for UK gardens and allotments, focused on prevention and non-chemical control. For a confirmed identification, the RHS or a local garden centre can help. Page updated 19 Sep 2026.