An invasive, yellow blooming plant may be among early spring flowers.

The fig buttercup (Ficaria verna) can do a lot of damage to the native plants growing on Hillsborough’s stream banks and the lowlands along the Eno River. The low-growing green plant has rubbery heart-shaped leaves and 8 to 12 thin yellow petals. It forms many small bulbs, or bulblets, and quickly creates a thick carpet of plant material that chokes out native plants.

The fig buttercup blooms in February and early March, making this a great time to identify and eliminate the plant.

The Hillsborough Tree Board would like your help in preventing this invasive species from destroying our community’s native plants. If you think you may know where the fig buttercup is growing in our area, please report it to the Public Space and Sustainability Division. Volunteers Holly Reid and Rich Shaw will then identify the plant and remove it. Please do not remove the plant on your own. It is easy to accidentally spread the plant.

The fig buttercup is sometimes confused with the native marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), which has round or kidney-shaped leaves and 5 to 9 yellow petals but no tubers or bulblets.

Volunteer Work

Reid and Shaw are part of a four-county team working to remove the fig buttercup under the direction of the North Carolina Botanical Garden and the North Carolina Invasive Plant Council. They have trekked through lowlands to identify and remove the fig buttercup since 2020. They also work with property owners to remove fig buttercup plants on private property in the most effective way.

The two are seeking volunteers to work with them. Contact the Public Space and Sustainability Division to be connected.

In addition to reporting possible locations of the plant, you can also help by telling your neighbors and friends about the invasive plant.