Integrated Pest Management
Bur Buttercup
Ranunculus testiculatus
Description
- low-growing plant with light green, antler-looking leaves covered with white hairs
- small bright yellow flowers are singly produced on the tips of leafless stalks which grow taller than the leaves
- five petal flowers are succeeded by oval-shaped, spiny burs; each bur produces 5 to 80 seeds
- summer annual with germination in early spring when temperatures reach 41°F
Location
- commonly grows in planting beds and lawn areas
Life Cycle
- flowers are produced within 3 weeks of germination followed by burs
- plant foliage dries, turns brown and becomes brittle by early summer
IPM Recommendations
- Hand-pull plants in planting beds prior to seed maturation.
- Shallow tillage or hoeing will control young plants in planting beds.
- Apply a mulch layer 3 inches deep on planting beds to reduce seed germination.
- Apply an appropriate post-emergent broadleaf herbicide directly to target weeds.