Ranunculus – A Bouquet of Ranunculus Reassures Your Beau that Her Charm Bewitches You

Ranunculus is a big group of flowering plants that includes the buttercups, and the garden favorite usually sold under this name is the Persian buttercup, Ranunculus asiaticus. Its rose-like flowers are packed with layer upon layer of thin, silky petals, and they come in almost every color except blue. Gardeners grow them from small, claw-shaped roots for spectacular spring color and long-lasting cut flowers.

Scientific Classification & Quick Facts

Common name	Ranunculus
Scientific name	Ranunculus
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Tracheophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Ranunculales
Family	Ranunculaceae
Type	Flowering plant grown from claw-shaped tubers
Habitat	Full sun, well-drained soil, mild winters
Colours	Almost every colour
Flowering season	Spring to summer
Height	2 to 24 inches
Special feature	Called buttercup; poisonous to livestock

What Ranunculus Looks Like

The Persian buttercup grows from a cluster of tuberous roots that look a bit like a tiny bunch of bananas or a bird’s claw. Each plant forms a mound of fern-like, divided leaves, then sends up sturdy stems topped with round, ruffled flowers about 2 to 5 inches (5 to 12 cm) across.

Most garden varieties reach about 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm) tall, although dwarf types for pots can be much shorter. Flower colors include white, cream, yellow, orange, pink, red, burgundy and purple, and some petals are edged or streaked with a second color.

Wild Persian buttercups come from the eastern Mediterranean and southwestern Asia, where winters are cool and wet and summers are hot and dry. That is why the plants grow in cool weather, flower in spring and then rest through the summer.

Names, Folklore and a Warning

The name Ranunculus comes from Latin words meaning “little frog,” probably because many wild species grow in damp places where frogs live. The common name buttercup comes from the shiny yellow flowers of wild species, and an old story claimed that cows grazing on buttercups gave yellower butter.

In reality, buttercups are poisonous. Their sap contains a chemical that can blister the mouth and upset the stomach of grazing animals, so livestock usually avoid them. The sap can also irritate human skin, so it is a good idea to wear gloves when handling the plants and to keep them away from pets that like to chew leaves.

In the Victorian “language of flowers,” ranunculus stood for radiant charm. Giving someone a bouquet was said to tell them, “I am dazzled by your charms” – which is where this flower’s romantic reputation comes from.

Photo by: Leif Stridvall

How to Grow Ranunculus

Choosing a Spot

Ranunculus need full sun and loose, well-drained soil. Their roots rot quickly in soggy ground, so raised beds and containers work very well. Before planting, dig the soil and mix in 2 to 3 inches of compost. A little bulb fertilizer can be added following the label, but keep it from touching the roots directly.

When to Plant

Timing depends on your winters. In mild areas such as USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10 (much of California, the Southwest, the Gulf Coast and similar climates), plant the claws in fall. They grow through the cool months and flower in early spring, often around March.

Ranunculus are tender to hard frost, and the leaves can be damaged when temperatures fall much below about 25°F (-4°C). In colder areas, plant outdoors in early spring after the worst frosts are over, or start the claws in pots in a cool, bright place and move them outside later. Spring-planted ranunculus usually bloom about three months after planting, in late spring or early summer.

Planting the Claws

• Soak the dry claws in room-temperature water for 3 to 4 hours so they plump up.
• Plant them about 2 inches (5 cm) deep with the claws, or “legs,” pointing down.
• Space them about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) apart and cover with soil.
• Water once after planting, then water lightly until shoots appear, usually in 2 to 3 weeks. Too much water before then can make the claws rot.

Watering and Care

Once the plants are growing, water when the top inch of soil feels dry, which is often about once a week in cool weather. Aim for soil that is evenly moist, never soggy. A thin layer of mulch helps keep the soil temperature and moisture steady.

Ranunculus like cool nights. When hot weather arrives, they stop flowering and the leaves begin to turn yellow, which is a natural signal that the plant is getting ready to rest.

Photo by: Thomas Jochmann

Care After Flowering

After the last flowers fade, keep the leaves in place. They are still collecting energy from sunlight and sending it down to the roots for next year. Water only if the soil becomes very dry.

When the foliage turns yellow and dies back, you have two choices. In places with mild, dry summers and good drainage, the claws can stay in the ground. Elsewhere, dig them up, let them dry in a shady, airy spot for a few days, then store them in a paper bag or box of dry peat moss or vermiculite in a cool, dry place until planting time. Many gardeners simply buy fresh claws each year, since stored ones do not always flower as strongly.

Ranunculus as Cut Flowers

Ranunculus are one of the best cut flowers you can grow. Cut stems in the cool early morning when the buds are colored and feel soft, like a marshmallow, when gently squeezed. Put them straight into a bucket of cool water.

In a vase with clean water that is changed every couple of days, they often last 7 to 10 days, and the buds keep opening wider. Regular cutting also encourages each plant to produce more flowers, so a small patch can fill your home with color all spring.

Ranunculus FAQs

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