Giant buttercup (Ranunculus acris)

	Giant Buttercup
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Giant Buttercup is a hairy perennial, with erect solid stems up to 1.5 m tall. It grows from a stout rhizome. It has large leaves, deeply divided into 3-7 segments. The flowers are yellow and up to 25 mm in diameter on round hairy stalks. Giant buttercup begins to grow strongly in the spring and starts to flower in November and December.

Seedlings are difficult to identify until the strongly pointed leaves develop. Giant buttercup prefers well drained land with high rainfall. In drier areas it is confined to ditches and wet patches.

In New Zealand the common areas that it grows are in the south Waikato, Taranaki, Pahiatua and Golden Bay in the South Island. It does appear in other areas but is not well established.

Control
The product of choice for Giant Buttercup control is Preside* Herbicide. Preside is clover and grass friendly and can be used either through a boom or as a spot spray application. The best time to spray the buttercup is prior to flowering in October and November.
Preside will also control other weeds such as Indian Hedge Mustard, annual buttercups, field chickweed and will provide very good suppression of oxeye daisy.
Always use Uptake* Spraying Oil with Preside to ensure the best results.

Dow AgroSciences is currently undertaking trial work with Tordon MAX on Giant buttercup and it is showing good activity on this weed as a spot application.

Preside and Tordon MAX are registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997 No. 4815 & 7321