Ranunculus (Buttercups)
Ranunculus | Tremendous color with the multitude of cultivars available. Full sun bulbs, rhizomes or tubers.
| Ranunculus | Bulb (tuber or rhizome) |
|---|---|
| Bloom Time | Varies with Species |
| Light | Full Sun for Most |
| Water | Varies by Cultivar |
| Diseases | Mildew, Rust, Viruses, Leaf Spot |
| Pests | Leaf Miners, Mites, Snails, Slugs |
| Propagation | Division, Seeds |
| Color | All Colors |
| Zones | Varies By Cultivar |
| Soil pH | 5.5 - 8.0 |
| Tolerates |
Ranunculus (Buttercups)
Ranunculus contains more than 400 species, including annuals, bi-annuals, perennials, rhizomes, bulbs and tubers. One thing most of the cultivar have in common is:
- Excellent cut flowers.
- Huge double flowers up to 5" across on sturdy 16" stems.
- Many bulbs will produce 20-35 flowers each.
- Prefers cool growing conditions with lots of light.
The Buttercup variety of cultivar have cup or saucer-shaped flowers and is reminiscent of the wildflower namesake.
Ranunculus come in a multitude of colors and a variety of bloom times. Most varieties are between 6 inches and 18 inches tall.
Ranunculus can be propagated in many different manners:
Plant Seeds: They do come true from seed and therefore it is a viable option for many of the cultivars.
Divide the Tubers: Gently dig the tubers and split them apart. Be careful as tubers are delicate.
Divide Bulbs: Dig up the bulbs in early spring, divide and replant. Plant toes down, 2" deep ,4-6" apart
Ranunculus (Buttercups)
Buttercups like mostly full sun, and for full flowering potential that is where they are the happiest.
Plant bulbs at a depth that is three times their height, and at least 1-1/2 bulb-widths apart.
Once the hole has been dug, work a handful of Bone Meal into the bottom of the hole and then place the bulb in the hole, upright (roots pointing downward).
If you can't detect were the roots are, an easy clue is the pointed more more pointed area is the top of the bulb. If you are still in doubt, just plant them sideways.
Fill in the hole or trench gently and make sure there are not any stones or rocks in the fill. Sort them out if there are. The soil should be free of clumps or clods that would impede growth of the bulb.
Planting bulbs in formal rows hardly ever look good and certainly does not look natural. It looks best to plant the bulbs in natural drifts, as you would see them in the woodlands.
If you have trouble with gophers or squirrels eating your bulbs, try sprinkling red pepper in the holes, covering the bulbs with chicken-wire, surround bulbs with sharp shards of gravel or other substance, or planting rodent-repelling bulbs like Fritillaria nearby.
Ranunculus (Buttercups)
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Ranunculus asiaticus (Creeping Buttercup) Tuberous, fibrous-rooted perennial with 3-lobed, hairy, dark green basal leaves, and several cup shaped flowers in pink, red, yellow or white.
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Ranunculus aconitifolius (Bachelor's Buttons) Clump-forming, hairy, fibrous-rooted perennial with dark green basal leaves and late spring white flowers.
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Ranunculus aconitifolius (White Bachelor's Buttons) Clump-forming, hairy, fibrous-rooted perennial with glossy,dark green leaves and long lasting double white flowers in late spring.
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Ranunculus acris (Tall Buttercup) Erect, hairy, fibrous-rooted perennial with long-stalked, mid-green basal leaves and numerous saucer-shaped golden yellow flowers.
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Ranunculus acris (Farrer's Yellow Tall Buttercup) Erect, hairy, fibrous-rooted perennial with long stalked, mid-green, basal leaves and saucer shaped pale yellow flowers in late spring.
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Ranunculus acris (Flore Pleno Tall Buttercup) Erect, hairy, fibrous-rooted perennial with long-stalked, green basal leaves and many petaled yellow flowers.
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Ranunculus alpestris (Alpestris Buttercup) Tufted evergreen perennial with fibrous roots, lightly hairy, gray-green basal leaves and cup shaped white flowers.
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Ranunculus amplexicaulis (Amplexicaulis Buttercup) Clump-forming perennial with fibrous roots, lightly hairy, gray-green basal leaves and groups of cup-shaped white flowers in early summer.
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Ranunculus asiaticus (Bloomingdale Series Persian Buttercup) Dwarf, fibrous-rooted perennial with rounded, deeply 3-lobed, hairy, dark green basal leaves and double flowers in red, orange, pink, and yellow.
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Ranunculus asiaticus (Tecolote Mixed Persian Buttercup) Tubererous, fibrous-rooted perennial with long-stalked, hairy, dark green, basal leaves with double and single flowers in yellow, orange, pink and white.
Ranunculus asiaticus (Turban Group Persian Buttercup) Tuberous, fibrous-rooted perennial with long-stalked, hairy, dark green, basal leaves and double flowers.
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Ranunculus bulbosus (Bulbous Buttercup) Tuberous perennial with glossy, dark green, basal leaves, hairy underneath, and bowl shaped, violet-scented yellow flowers in autumn.
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Ranunculus bulbosus (F.M. Burton Bulbous Buttercup) Erect, hairy, sometimes semi-evergreen perennial with fibrous roots, swollen, corm-like base, dark green basal leaves, and several saucer-shaped yellow flowers.
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Ranunculus bulbosus (Speciosus Plenus Bulbous Buttercup) Clump-forming perennial with deeply 3-lobed, mid-green basal leaves and double yellow flowers from midspring to midsummer.
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Ranunculus calandrinioides (Calandrin Buttercup) Clump-foprming perennial with deeply 3-lobed, mid-green basal leaves and panicles of 3 cup-shaped pink or white flowers.
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Ranunculus constantinopolitanus (Constantine Buttercup) Clump-forming perennial with deeply 3-lobed, mid-green basal leaves and 3 to 8 bowl shaped, glossy, bright yellow flowers in midspring.
Ranunculus (Buttercups)
Water-soluble, quick release fertilizers. Water soluble fertilizers are generally used every two weeks during the growing season or per label instructions
Temperature controlled slow-release fertilizers. Controlled, slow-release fertilizers are worked into the soil usually only once during the growing season or per label directions.
Organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion. For organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion, follow label directions as they may vary per product.
Our preference here at Green Living Made Easy, is of course the Organic Fertilization method. We use either Fish Emulsion or Organic Bone Meal.
