The grass will out-compete the buttercup for space and resources effectively preventing the weed from growing and taking root. The easiest and most effective way to control buttercup is to make sure that your field, pasture, or lawn has a thick, healthy grass population. It is a perennial plant so even when you cannot see it, it still alive. Also, when buttercup is dried like when making hay the toxin becomes inactive.īuttercup is an aggressive weed and can be very difficult to control.

Severe cases can cause death in livestock.īut before you panic, buttercup is unpalatable to most animals therefore it is unlikely to be consumed if other sources of forage are available to the animals. When buttercup is consumed a toxin is released that can cause blistering in and around the mouth as well as gastrointestinal tract, colic, or diarrhea. Buttercup is toxic to all species of livestock and can even cause symptoms in humans if it is excessively handled. There are many species of Buttercups native to the Mid-Atlantic but the most common in our area is known as Bulbous Buttercup (due to a large bulb-like base called corm the plant creates below the soil).Īlthough buttercup appears innocent and sweet is actually a very difficult weed to control in pastures and is toxic to livestock. If you look out along the road ways and pastures of Carroll County, you’ll see the green grass dominated by tall, spindly weeds with delicate, yellow flowers.

Buttercup weed in lawn