Managing Tall Buttercup in Pastures and Natural Areas
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Tall buttercup is an introduced perennial forb that is widespread throughout much of North America (Figure 1). It is invasive on irrigated and sub-irrigated pastures, meadows, stream banks, roadsides, and ditches. Tall buttercup forms a toxic substance, protoanemonin, when grazed or damaged. Although the plant is typically avoided by grazing animals, livestock poisoning may occur on overgrazed pastures where more desirable forage is lacking.
FIG. 1 DISTRIBUTION OF TALL BUTTERCUP IN THE UNITED STATES (EDDMAPS 2017).
Identification and Spread
Tall buttercup is an herbaceous plant that grows from a stout rootstock. Basal leaves grow directly from the root crown or rhizome and are deeply divided into three to five palmate lobes (Figure 2). Stems are one to three feet tall, erect and hollow, with smaller leaves on upper portions of the stem. Each root crown has from one to several stems that are branched above. Soft hairs are present on both leaves and stems. Flowers typically have five, but may have up to eight rounded petals that are glossy yellow in color and about one-half inch long. The plant blooms from late May to September, depending on temperature and moisture.
Tall buttercup spreads primarily by seed but can also reproduce by rhizomes. Seeds are typically viable for less than two years when located in the top inch of soil but can survive longer when buried deeper.
FIG. 2 TALL BUTTERCUP IS ABOUT THREE FEET TALL WITH GLOSSY YELLOW FLOWERS AND DEEPLY LOBED PALMATE LEAVES. FLOWER PHOTO BY JANE MANGOLD, LEAF PHOTO BY DAVE BRINK, MONTANA STATE UNIV.
Integrated Management
Integrating various management techniques—prevention along with herbicides, mechanical, manual, biological, and cultural methods—will optimize control of tall buttercup.
PREVENTION
Preventing seed spread by livestock and farm equipment will help protect non-infested pastures and meadows. Mowers and other equipment used on infested pastures should be cleaned to prevent movement of tall buttercup seed. Livestock grazing infested pastures should be held for at least three days prior to moving to non-infested grazing areas.
HERBICIDES
FIG. 3 HERBICIDES WERE APPLIED WITH A CO2 BACKPACK SPRAYER AT LATE-BUD TO EARLYBLOOM GROWTH STAGE. PHOTO BY CELESTINE DUNCAN.
Selective herbicides can provide effective control of tall buttercup. Field trials were established on a hay meadow in western Montana to determine the effectiveness of several herbicides for controlling tall buttercup. Treatments included Milestone® herbicide at 5 and 7 fluid ounces per acre (fl oz/A), MCPA at 64 fl oz/A, and metsulfuron-methyl at 1 ounce of product per acre (oz/A). Herbicides were applied at late bud to bloom growth stage in early summer (June 8), and a second application was made in fall (September 16). Herbicides were applied with a CO2 backpack sprayer in 13.5 gallons of water per acre (Figure 3).
Results of the study showed that Milestone at 5 to 7 fluid ounces per acre provided greater than 95 percent control of tall buttercup one year after treatment when applied in either early summer or fall (Figures 4 and 5). MCPA provided greater than 95 percent control one year following an early summer application; however, control was less than 40 percent when applied in fall. Other field trials conducted in Montana show similar results with Milestone on tall buttercup (Strevey and Mangold 2015). Continued annual application of MCPA is discouraged due to reports of possible resistance to this herbicide within tall buttercup populations.
FIG. 4 MILESTONE® HERBICIDE PROVIDED GREATER THAN 95 PERCENT CONTROL OF TALL BUTTERCUP ONE YEAR AFTER TREATMENT (TOP) WHEN APPLIED IN EITHER EARLY SUMMER OR FALL, COMPARED TO NON-TREATED CONTROL (BOTTOM). PHOTOS BY CELESTINE DUNCAN
MECHANICAL AND MANUAL CONTROL
Mowing prior to seed set may reduce tall buttercup seed production; however, in most irrigated and sub-irrigated pastures, the plant will regrow after mowing and set seed later in the season. Proper timing of mowing is critical to promote growth of desirable plants and impact flowering of tall buttercup. Individual tall buttercup plants can be removed by pulling or digging in spring. The entire root system must be removed to control the plant.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
No biological control agents are currently available for tall buttercup. Livestock grazing generally increases tall buttercup density, since livestock avoid the plant.
Disturbance caused by livestock will provide open sites that favor establishment of tall buttercup.
CULTURAL CONTROL
Tall buttercup has low tolerance to dry conditions. Regulating the timing and amount of water applied to an infested site may reduce the competitive ability of tall buttercup. Promoting desirable grasses with supplemental fertilization, as well as managing livestock grazing, may reduce buttercup establishment.
FIG. 5 PERCENT CONTROL OF TALL BUTTERCUP ONE YEAR AFTER TREATMENT WITH VARIOUS HERBICIDES APPLIED IN EARLY SUMMER AND FALL.
References:
- Dow AgroSciences. Internal Field Data on Tall Buttercup. Accessed July 15, 2017.
- EDDMapS. 2017. Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System. The University of Georgia—Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. Available online at http://www.eddmaps.org; last accessed July 17, 2017.
- Jacobs, J., M. Graves, and J. Mangold. 2010. Plant Guide: Tall Buttercup (Ranunculus acris L.). USDA—Natural Resources Conservation Service, Montana State Office. Bozeman, Montana 59715. Available online: https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_raac3.pdf
- Strevey, H., S. Davis, and J. Mangold. 2015. Tall Buttercup: Identification, Biology and Integrated Management. Montana State University. MT201502AG. Available online: https://store.msuextension.org/publications/AgandNaturalResources/MT201502AG.pdf
- Strevey, H. and J. Mangold. 2015. Testing Integrated Management Strategies for Tall Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) in Irrigated Hayfield Meadows. Invasive Plant Science and Management. Volume 8, Issue 4. pp. 385-392.
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Milestone herbicide is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or usein your state. When treating areas in and around roadside or utility rights-of-way that are or will be grazed, hayed, or planted to forage, important label precautions apply regarding harvesting hay from treated sites, using manure from animals grazing on treated areas or rotating the treated area to sensitive crops. See the product label for details.
State restrictions on the sale and use of Milestone apply. Consult the label before purchase, or use for full details. Always read and follow label directions. ©2021 Corteva
Celestine Duncan contributed to this article.
Published 2017; Reviewed June, 2019.
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