All parts of the early buttercup are poisonous when ingested, particularly the flowers. The plant becomes toxic when crushed, releasing the glycoside ranunculin. Symptoms include stomach pain and skin irritation. Widespread in meadows, verges, and gardens, it poses a risk, especially to children.

Early buttercup is a problematic weed found across North America. As its common name suggests, this weed is one of the first to grow in the season, out-competing native plants for sunlight and pollinators from very early on. Buttercups of all kinds are prolific spreaders, with one plant being able to spread up to 12 m by underground offshoots. Gardens and wild ecosystems alike suffer from nutrient loss and smothering from early buttercups aggressive creeping. They can grow even faster in moist environments, such as well-kept gardens and irrigated fields, adding to their profile of being a pesky garden weed. It is best to control early buttercup with herbicides, as they show a high rate of effectiveness in reducing this weed.