Enchanting butter-hued glossy petals atop vibrant green sprigs - buttercups grow in abundance in the Scottish spring and summertime. Let’s explore the history and folklore of how this tiny, joyous yellow flower acquired its oh-so-sweet name.
History
While buttercups weren’t as exalted in classical mythology as roses or lilies, they were still noted by early herbalists and naturalists. Pliny the Elder (1st century CE) wrote about various Ranunculus species for their medicinal uses, mostly external, due to their irritating sap.
Buttercups are survivors. The Ranunculus genus includes over 600 species and has ancient origins, dating back millions of years. Fossils have even been found in Miocene layers (from 20 million years ago), showing their incredible longevity.
How was the buttercup named?
The name buttercup is thought to come from the flower’s bright, cheerful yellow petals, which resemble a small cup of butter. Its botanical name, Ranunculus, means "little frog" in Latin—a nod to the plant’s fondness for damp places and growing near water.
In Scottish Gaelic, the creeping buttercup is called "buidheag", a word that more generally refers to any small yellow thing, whether in the plant or animal world. It can also mean "yolk," evoking the same sunny, golden quality. (Learn how to pronounce it here!)
Buttercups in Bloom
Although there are hundreds of species of the beautiful little buttercup, there are four main varieties: creeping, meadow, bulbous and Persian.
Meadow Buttercup
Buttercups bloom from April to October, bringing a golden glow to the landscape through the warmer months. As the name suggests, meadow buttercups are commonly found in meadows and pastures, but you’ll also spot them in parks, gardens, and along the edges of woodlands.
The flower is made up of five glossy yellow petals and has rounded, deeply lobed leaves, typically divided into three to seven segments. Though they often thrive in grazing fields, buttercups are poisonous to livestock and are usually avoided, allowing them to flourish unchecked. This is why you will often see them spread thickly, forming a vivid yellow carpet that dances in the summer breeze.
Creeping Buttercup
The creeping buttercup blooms from May to August and is the most familiar buttercup, often catching the eye dotted on garden lawns, parks, woods and fields. They have long, rooting runners which help them spread across lawns and have hairy leaves with frayed edges. The creeping buttercup is pollinated by short-tongued bees who can reach the pollen because the flower is an open, flat shape.
Bulbous Buttercup
Flowers appear in early spring from March until May. It has the same familiar butter-yellow flowers however, it grows from a bulb-like underground stem. You can find the bulbous buttercup on chalk and limestone grasslands and along verges.
Persian Buttercup
Blooms in spring and early summer and is native to the Mediterranean, southwestern Asia, southeastern Europe and northeastern Africa. It’s different in appearance with its long stems and abundantly layered petals. They’re tubers and can be grown in the UK if planted in the autumn, they love lots of sunlight or partial shade.
Medicinal Properties
Creeping Buttercup has a long history of use in folk medicine for centuries. Traditionally, it was used to treat wounds, skin conditions and digestive problems. However, it must be noted that eating the plant raw is poisonous, causing vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Nicholas Culpeper, the famous 17th-century herbalist, noted that buttercups caused blistering and were sometimes used to draw out poison or "bad humours."
Modern research has shown that buttercup does indeed have medicinal properties. It contains components that can kill bacteria and fungi, making it a great treatment for infections. It can also be used to treat eczema, psoriasis, cuts and scrapes due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it can reduce irritation and redness when applied to the skin.
To prepare creeping buttercup, dry them out and grind them down to a fine powder. This powder can then be mixed with oil and applied to the affected area. (Please check with a registered herbalist or doctor before using Buttercup medicinally. Buttercup is no longer a commonly used treatment due to the risk of skin irritation).
Folklore
Do you like butter?
You probably know the classic children's game: hold a buttercup under someone’s chin, and if it reflects yellow, it means they like butter. This tradition is widespread in the UK and parts of Europe, and it comes from the flower’s shiny petals, due to a unique reflective layer that bounces light off the surface. It's playful, but also tied to old ideas of divination and hidden truths revealed by nature.
Association with fairies
In Celtic folklore, many wildflowers are considered portals or tools of the fairy realm. Buttercups, growing in sunny meadows, were believed to mark places where the Sìth (fae folk) danced or rested. Picking them in some tales could attract fairy mischief - or blessings, depending on your luck!
Cows, Butter & Rich Pastures
The name buttercup isn’t because they make good butter - ironically, they're actually mildly toxic to cows! But folklore suggested that cows grazing in buttercup-rich fields gave the best, creamiest butter. This belief was so strong it influenced farming superstitions.
Symbol of Humility or Childish Joy
Buttercups are simple, common, and hardy, therefore they have come to represent humble joy, innocence, and youthful energy in folklore and Victorian flower language (floriography). They were often woven into daisy chains or gifted as simple tokens of affection.
Healing & Warnings
As we touched upon previously, folk medicine sometimes used buttercup poultices for sores and arthritis, though this was risky - Ranunculus species contain irritants and can blister the skin which is why it must be prepared properly before use and is perhaps not the most favoured now in modern times.
Inspiration
Yvonne Duncan-Mandel, the founder and maker of SPÈ Candles and Botanicals, created our Buttercup Room & Linen Mist and our brand new Buttercup Apothecary Candle as an ode to joy - encapsulating the essence of golden sunlight, carefree days, and the nostalgic bloom of summer meadows.
Inspired by the cheerful wildflower that carpets Scottish fields in the warm months, the Buttercup scent evokes the simple magic of sunshine and open skies. Bright, citrusy notes of bergamot, lemon myrtle, and neroli - all from pure essential oils - lift the spirit and bring a soft, natural radiance to any space.
A joyful reminder to pause, breathe, and bask in the golden hour.
