Ranunculus glaberrimus is found from central British Columbia east to southern Saskatchewan, south through the Dakotas to Kansas, through the Rocky Mountains southeast to northern New Mexico, west to the Great Basin region, and southwest to northeastern California.

[2][3][4] Ranunculus glaberrimus is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 4–15 centimetres (1+1⁄2–6 in) tall.

[4] The somewhat thick basal leaves are oval, with long petioles, ranging from entire to having three deep lobes.

The flowers have four to ten yellow petals (usually five)[4] about 1 cm long.

[5] It flowers relatively early, typically in March and April, though occasionally blooming in February.