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• Buttercup Flower Parts
• Types Of Ranunculus Flowers
• What Is A Ranunculus
• Types Of Ranunculus
• Types Of Alstroemeria

Beware the Toxicity Behind the Beauty. All species of ranunculus are poisonous to both animals and humans. When the leaves of buttercups are crushed or bruised they release a compound called ranunculin that breaks down into an acrid, toxic oil called protoanemonin. Ranunculus (Ranunculaceae) plants, around 600 species, are globally distributed (Emadzade et al., 2011; Wang, 1995). Ranunculus is the largest genus of Ranunculaceae and can be found on every continent, from tropical to the Arctic and Subantarctic regions. It is particularly rich in temperate and Mediterranean regions. Ranunculus bulbosus, commonly known as St. Anthony's turnip or bulbous buttercup, is a perennial member of the buttercup family. It has attractive yellow flowers, and deeply divided, three-lobed long-petioled basal leaves.

Ranunculus flowers are a group of flowers which includes approximately 500 species. There are many of these flowers that grow wild or that you can add to your garden yourself. In addition to being a pretty flower to grow in your garden, many of the species of this flower have medicinal properties. If you are thinking of introducing these plants to your garden, here is everything you need to know about ranunculus flowers.

An Overview of Ranunculus Flowers

The most common type of ranunculus flowers is the buttercup, of which there are many different species. Other types of ranunculus flowers are water crowfoots and spearworts. Most ranunculus flowers are perennial, but there are some species that are herbaceous, biennial, terrestrial, or aquatic plants. The leaves have stems and veined with very fine leaflets. Most have five petals that are yellow, green, white of blushed with purple, red, or pink. Each petal has a nectary gland at its base, and the fruits of the flowers can vary from smooth to hairy and from winged to being covered in hooked spines.

Common Species of Ranunculus Flowers

Although it is estimated that there are over 500 species, some of the most common varieties recommended by The Spruce are:

• Buttercups – Most of the species in the ranunculus flower group are buttercups. These have crepe petals and are available in a variety of colors. There are even designer blooms with patterns and shading.
• Ranunculus ficaria – A common wildflower in North America, these are often found in grassy meadows, woodland areas, or along the banks of streams. The sub-species Brazen Hussy is often cultivated in landscapes. However, this species has some invasive properties.
• Ranunculus asiaticus – This flower is usually sold in multi-colored mixes that add pops of color to your garden. These tubers feature gnarled claws.
• Ranunculus tango – These are similar in appearance to red roses, but they are much easier to grow without using pesticides.
• Ranunculus Hanoi – The blooms of these flowers are a shade of pale pink. Their shape is similar to that of a rosebud, with multiple layers of petals. They are sometimes described as a cross between marshmallow and cotton candy.
• Ranunculus ‘Purple Picotee’ – These are a delightful flower with lilac-white petals with dark purple, crimped edges. They need plenty of moisture and good drainage to thrive.
• Ranunculus acontifolius – Unlike most ranunculus flowers, these need moist conditions and dappled shade. Therefore, they are one of the best varieties to choose if you do not have a lot of sunlight or drainage in your garden. They thrive in spring and then become dormant in summer.
• Ranunculus Venere – These have an unusually colored flower that is somewhere between pink and coral.
• Ranunculus Lyallii – Native to New Zealand, this is one of the tallest species you can grow as they can grow to a height of three feet. These flowers have a yellow center and white petals. They prefer rocky soils, full sunlight, and cool summers.
• Ranunculus ‘Amandine Rose’ – The ‘Amandine Rose’ is a sub-species of the ranunculus asiaticus. It is one of Holland’s most successful flower exports because of its ruffled layers of petals, which are a rich pink. These flowers thrive in cool spring weather.
• Ranunculus cortusifolius – This is a type of yellow buttercup that is native to the Canary Islands. Each flower has five, golden petals. They bloom in spring and remain in flower for three months. They will become dormant during the drier summer months.
• Ranunculus alpestris – If you have an alpine garden, then this is the ideal species for you to choose. They have small white flowers and grow to a maximum height of two inches. They will flower abundantly throughout spring.
• Ranunculus ‘Cloni Dark Orange’ – The shape of these flowers resembles that of the English rose and the petals are a vivid orange. The bulbs of this species are propagated under strict laboratory condition in Italy.
• Ranunculus nivalis – Also known as the snow buttercup, this tiny flower grows in Arctic regions and Alaska. When the summer months hit and the snow begins to melt, it seems like these flowers spring up overnight. Their ability to withstand snow means they are ideal for those living in colder climates. The small flowers of these plants have overlapping gold petals and a bright green center.
• Ranunculus ‘Rhone Pink’ – This is a Japanese designer species of ranunculus. They have layered pink blooms, similar to a rose.
• Ranunculus acris – This is a great choice for beginner gardeners as it is one of the hardiest varieties. It is a perennial hardy that grows as a wildflower in boggy areas, but it will grow in most soil types. It blooms between May and July.

Some Uses of Ranunculus Flowers

Although ranunculus flowers are toxic if eaten raw, they are used for many pharmacological activities. Some of the medicines in which they are traditionally used are medicines for intermittent fever, anti-rheumatism, and rubefacient. These flowers are mostly used in Asian traditional medicines. Other than their medicinal uses, ranunculus flowers are used only for growing in gardens and for selling as cut flowers.

Why Choose Ranunculus Flowers?

To decide whether ranunculus flowers are the right sort of plant for you to add to your garden, it is important to consider the benefits of opting for the flowers. Some reasons to choose ranunculus flowers include:

• Aesthetics- The main reason why people choose ranunculus flowers is for the aesthetic benefits they bring to any garden as they are pretty and colorful flowers.
• Ease of care- They are easy to care for, so they are suitable for both experienced gardeners and novices.
• Variety- Compared to many other types of plants, there is a lot of variety in ranunculus flowers. There are over 500 species to choose between that come in a vast array of colors.
• Availability- Some types of plants are hard to find, but ranunculus flowers are widely available and are sold at most garden centers.
• Price- the bulbs for these flowers are cheap to buy, so you can add some beauty to your garden even if you have a limited budget. If you use the tubular roots to grow them again the next year, you will save money on buying new plants for your garden.

When and Where to Grow Ranunculus Flowers

The Spruce offers some tips for when and where to plant your ranunculus flowers. These include:

• You can plant these flowers outdoors in fall if you live in a warmer climate.
• If you live in a climate where temperatures drop below freezing for extended periods during winter, then wait until late winter or early spring before planting outdoors.
• Alternatively, start the tubers indoors for around eight to 12 weeks before you expect the last frost.
• If the bulbs are planted in fall, they will bloom in early spring. Bulbs planted in late winter will flower by mid-spring.
• Plant bulbs in areas with full sun exposure.
• Ranunculus flowers can grow in most soil types but will thrive in a loamy soil.
• Choose a spot with good drainage. Avoid areas where water puddles for more than five hours after rain.

How to Grow Ranunculus Flowers

To grow ranunculus flowers in landscape beds, Easy to Grow Bulbs recommends the following steps:

1. Choose the best spot for your ranunculus flowers.
2. If drainage is a problem, add two to three inches of organic matter to improve the drainage. Some examples of organic matter are moss, ground bark, compost, or decomposed manure.
3. Dig a small hole approximately two to three inches deep and insert the bulb.
4. Cover the bulb with soil and gently pat into place.
5. Plant the bulbs between four and six inches apart.
6. Water the bulbs immediately after planting as this will encourage the roots to grow.
7. Do not water the plants again until you see leaves sprouting. This usually happens in early spring but will depend on when and where you have planted the bulbs.

Tips for Growing Ranunculus Flowers in Containers

Buttercup Flower Parts

Some gardeners prefer to grow their ranunculus flowers in a container. This is especially a good idea if you live in a colder climate. The following tips will help you to grow healthy ranunculus flowers in containers in your garden.

• Choose containers that have a drainage hole at the bottom.
• Use a good-quality potting mix that drains well and then fill the container with this.
• Poke holes about two inches deep and approximately three to four inches apart.
• Push the bulbs into the holes and cover with soil.
• Immediately after planting, water the bulbs.
• Put the containers where they can receive full sunlight throughout the day.

Growing Ranunculus Plants in Cold Climates

Although ranunculus plants prefer warmer climates and access to full sunlight throughout the day, it is possible to grow them in colder climates, too. It is best to plant them indoors first until the worst of the cold weather has passed. If you plant the bulbs directly outside, soak the bulbs in tepid water for approximately four hours as this will give them a head start. These plants are not cold hardy, so you will have to start again with new bulbs each year rather than expecting them to bloom annually.

Tips for Caring for Your Ranunculus Flowers

Types Of Ranunculus Flowers

Ranunculus flowers are easy to grow and care for, says Gardening Know How. Use the following tips to care for your ranunculus flowers properly:

• Pull out the tubers at the end of each season by waiting until the foliage has almost completely died and then digging them out.
• Use the tubers to regrow the plants the following year. Simply dry them out in a cool dry place to remove the moisture.
• Watering is only needed id the weather is hot and dry for a prolonged period. Too much water will cause the roots to rot.
• Cutting off the flowers at the end of the season will ensure that the plants continue to bloom the following year.

What Is A Ranunculus

Flowering, Harvesting, and Using the Roots of Ranunculus Flowers

Types Of Ranunculus

Gardening Direct says that ranunculus flowers are prized by florists because of their beautiful shapes, their display longevity, and their intense flowers. If you have this type of flowers in your garden, you can cut the flowers for display in your home. You should cut them when they are fully formed but haven’t opened. You can also collect the seeds from ranunculus flowers. When flowering is over and the petals have fallen off the flowers, the seed head matures and then dries out. By shaking or rubbing the pod, you harvest the seeds. It is also possible to grow more ranunculus plants from the roots. After flowering, lift and divide the tuberous roots. You can then keep pieces of the root in pots filled with soil-based compost and plant them out in spring.

Plant Problems

Like most plants, ranunculus plants can have problems caused by pests and diseases. Gardenerdy says that the three most common problems for ranunculus plants are aphids, mollusks, and fungal attacks. However, these are common problems that can affect almost any plant in your garden, so they are not species-specific issues.

Ranunculus Plants – The Final Verdict

The bulbs of ranunculus plants are widely available and they are very easy to grow. They will fill your garden with beautiful colors, and they need very little care. Therefore, they are an excellent addition to any garden for gardeners of all skill levels. They are particularly good if your aim is to add a variety of colors to your garden. You do not need a large garden to grow these plants as you can grow them indoors or in containers. This means that even people with only a yard, a balcony, a patio, or no garden at all can grow these flowers at home.

Brilliantly colored flowers are 'ranunculus' chief attraction, and they are indeed special. They most often come in multiple layers of delicate, crepe paper--thin petals, looking like an origami masterwork. Ranunculus (R. asiaticus) excel in southern and western gardens, and make terrific container plants everywhere. They also make long-lasting cut flowers. Bulbs are widely available in Fall at retail nurseries in mild-winter climates; in Fall and early spring from mail-order catalogs.

Ranunculus leaves, grass green and vaguely celery-like, grow in a mound 6 to 12 inches across. Flowers on 12- to 18-inch stems emerge in March from fall-planted bulbs, June and July from spring-planted bulbs; they last up to six weeks. On the most common type, the Tecolote strain, flowers are mostly fully double, 3 to 6 inches wide, and available in bicolored picotee, gold, pastel mix, pink, red, rose, salmon, sunset orange, white, and yellow. The less common Bloomingdale strain is shorter, to 10 inches, with pale orange, pink, red, yellow, and white double flowers.

Broadly speaking, ranunculus are frost-hardy cool-season perennials. They perform best where winters are relatively mild and springs are long and cool. The roots tolerate soil temperatures to 10°F, while growing plants can handle temperatures below 20°F for several hours.

Ranunculus are most popular in the mild-winter regions of the South and West, in states such as California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana (USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 11), where they grow best. Planted there in October or November, they flower in March.

The clawlike bulbs, more correctly tubers, come in four grades or sizes. The largest, called jumbos, are the ones you should rely upon; they are at least 7 to 8 centimeters (2-3/4 to 3-1/8 inches) in circumference, or about 7/8 inch in diameter. Number one tubers are slightly smaller, 6 to 7 centimeters (2-1/4 to 2-3/4 inches); number twos are 5 to 6 centimeters (2 to 2-1/4 inches); and number threes, which are rare at retail, are 3 to 4 centimeters (1-1/8 to 2-1/4 inches).

Bulb size predicts the number of flowers. Each jumbo bulb will produce some 35 cuttable flowers, compared to a fifth as many from a number three bulb. Number ones will make about 20 flowers, number twos a dozen or more. Stick to jumbos for containers and most smaller plantings. Smaller number twos or even threes serve well for mass plantings.

At retail nurseries this fall, you can expect to pay about 50 cents for each jumbo bulb, 25 cents for number twos. Increasingly, nurseries also offer ranunculus in fall or spring as bedding plants in 4-inch pots. While the cost per bulb in pots is greater, this is a good option if you need only a few plants for a container.

Gardeners in zone 7 and north (Richmond and Reno to Minneapolis) can also grow ranunculus, but on a different schedule. In these regions, plant in early spring a week or two before the typical last frost.

Or, plant them in pots indoors in February for transplanting later. Place pots in a south- or west-facing window or under grow lights. Temperatures around 55°F are ideal. In early spring, gradually acclimate plants to outdoors by putting them out for more time each day (bring them in at night). Plant outdoors by mid-April in zones 6 and 7 (mid-May in zones 4 and 5). Spring-planted ranunculus will bloom in June or July.

Dry and hard when you buy them, tubers soften and plump up after absorbing moisture. You might be advised elsewhere to soak tubers before planting. It's not necessary, and if you happen to leave them in water too long, they'll turn to mush.

Choose a location in full sun and be sure the soil is well drained. The one environment that ranunculus do not tolerate is warm and wet. The cool soil of fall and early spring offers some protection from rotting, but soil that is never soggy gives extra insurance. Plant the tuber's claw pointed end down and 1 to 2 inches deep, less in clay soil. Space jumbos 8 to 12 inches apart (at least one tuber per square foot), number three tubers about 4 inches apart (two or three per square foot).

Ranunculus adapt easily to container life, but they do produce a large root system. A 10-inch pot can fit one or two jumbos or three number twos.

Whether tubers are in the garden or in pots, water thoroughly after planting, and apply a mulch of your choice: bark, coco hulls, and straw all work well. As long as soil retains some moisture, don't water again until you see sprouts, usually within 15 to 20 days.

Companion plants. Because ranunculus are cool-season bloomers, their natural companions include other cool-season flowers such as snapdragon (Antirrhinum), calendula, larkspur (Consolida ambigua), Chinese forget-me-not (Cynoglossum amabile), African daisy (Arctotis), candytuft (Iberis), sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus), toadflax (Linaria), forget-me-not (Myosotis), Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule), primrose (Primula), and pansy (Viola). The question is how to combine colors.

Here are two ranunculus color schemes that have proven popular. Interplant pink ranunculus with salmon Iceland poppy and red-purple pansies, and accent with a few yellow and pink English primroses. Another favorite scheme combines salmon ranunculus with blue Chinese forget-me-not.

Ranunculus from seed. If you can locate seed for sale or through a swap, they're definitely worth the effort. Sow in a lightweight, peat-based seed-starting mix in late winter, maintain soil temperature at 50°F, and allow 20 to 30 days for germination. Sow thickly, because the number of seeds that actually grow is low. After germination, maintain seedlings indoors at about 55°F until outdoor planting time. Plants will flower by June.

As cut flowers. Beyond their intrinsic beauty, ranunculus flowers have another virtue: they last indoors about 7 days after cutting. And at about a penny-and-a-half per flower, they are very inexpensive. Cut when flowers first show color, in the early morning after they have had the night to recharge themselves with moisture. For an additional day or two of vase life, add any floral preservative to the water.

After the flowers fade. For some lucky gardeners with perfectly drained, cool soil, the tubers can stay in place and be treated like any perennial that comes back year after year. But this is rare. Most gardeners treat ranunculus as annuals, disposing of them after bloom. You could pull and compost plants, or leave them in place to fade away. In most gardens, the tubers will rot in moist summer soils. More ambitious gardeners can save the tubers for replanting next year. Let blooms fade and plants dry out. Lift tubers, cut off tops, and store in a dry, cool place for planting next year.

Michael MacCaskey is a former editorial director at National Gardening.

Types Of Alstroemeria