Dell, I think our cheerful golden weed is native to southern Europe. Found an image on-line of a Scottish woodland carpeted with the stuff. Where the Leonard J Buck Garden in Far Hills, NJ is fighting with it there is a two week period where the drifts of golden Ranunculus ficaria intermingle with the intense blue flowers of Pulmonaria angustifolia and the result is exquisite. What's really scary is the form I read about, which - in addition to the underground tubers also makes bulbils on the leaves. Ack! Bill, I also have 'Brazen Hussy' and agree that its near-to-black leaves are elegant. Also easily distinguished from the thug. It spreads, but not with the same insane rapidity as the type plant. I also have a double flowered form which is very charming. And a friend recently gave me a start of one with an arrow shaped leaf that is mottled with grayish brown on green, same single yellow flowers. He thought it was 'Brazen Hussy' but I assured him it was not. No idea which cultivar the double is, or what the last one might be. Adam, many thanks for your elegantly easy suggestion. Today is - at last - sunny albeit normally chilly. As soon as it warms up a little I will go and toss some ammonia into the bag of Ranunculus / Ficaria, chanting "Die, d-mn you, die!" as I do so. Judy in tender spring green New Jersey