Cooperative Extension

There are several buttercups found in Indiana. The buttercups are toxic plants and can cause poisonings in grazing animals; however, they are reported not to be toxic in hay. In almost all or at least in the most frequently encountered buttercups the flowers are yellow. These plants can be problematic in no-till crops, gardens, pastures, wheat, and waste areas. Fall or early spring applications of glyphosate + 2,4-D, Autumn [corn only], Princep [corn only] and Canopy XL + 2,4-D [soybean only] have provided excellent (90 to 100 % control) control of smallflower buttercup. In grass pastures, Cimmaron, 2,4-D, and crossbow will provide good to excellent control of most buttercups. Dicamba’s control of buttercups may be a little more inconsistent ranging from fair to excellent. In winter wheat, Osprey, Olympus, Peak, and Harmony Extra have been reported to provide excellent control of smallflower buttercup. Always read and follow pesticide labels when using pesticides. The Longer Story