Creeping Spearwort
Ranunculus reptans
Family: Ranunculaceae
What it is like
Ranunculus reptans is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate. It is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.
Height (m): 0.2
Where it is found
A rare plant of lake margins in the Lake District and in Scotland.
Northern and central Europe, including Britain.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
Root - cooked. The roots have been baked and then dipped in oil before being eaten.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
How it is grown
Prefers a moist loamy soil on the heavy side. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes.
Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions.
Best place to grow: Pond; Bog Garden;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness:
Growth: Fast
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist, wet
Things to keep in mind
All parts of the plant are poisonous, the toxins being destroyed by heat or by drying. The plant also has a strongly acrid juice that can cause blistering to the skin.