Perennial from the Ranunculaceae family, this buttercup is native to the eastern Mediterranean region, found in Crete, the Aegean islands, mainland Greece, and Turkey. It grows in rocky scrublands, stony slopes, and coastal cliffs, at low and medium altitudes.
The plant forms a compact clump of 15 to 30 cm, with medium green, fleshy, and slightly blistered foliage, with rounded and crenate lobes, slightly pubescent. This stocky and dense foliage, clearly visible in the photograph, gives the plant a robust and Mediterranean appearance very distinct from alpine buttercups.
The flowers are remarkably large for the genus, exceeding 3 cm in diameter, with five broad, rounded petals of a bright and shiny yellow, surrounding a dense center of stamens and carpels. The flower buds are distinctly hairy.
In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from February to April, very early in the Mediterranean season. In cultivation under a temperate climate, it blooms in spring but requires winter protection against excessive moisture.
It requires well-drained soil, a sunny exposure, and withstands summer drought. It is suitable for cultivation in pots or rock crevices under cold shelter.