Ranunculus Bulbs

Ranunculus or Persian Buttercup?

Commonly known as Persian buttercup, Ranunculus asiaticus are native to eastern Mediterranean region in southwestern Asia, southeastern Europe, and northeastern Africa. This cool season perennial has multilayered flowers that come in stunning shades of orange, pink, yellow, red, and more. These beauties are great for flower beds, containers, and also make excellent cut flowers that are currently all-the-rage with modern brides.

Although commonly referred to as bulbs, the part of ranunculus that is planted is technically a corm. Prior to planting, ranunculus bulbs should be soaked in room temperature water for three to four hours. You can expect to see them double in size during this time! You can also choose to pre-sprout your ranunculus before planting for an even greater head start. Place soaked corms in a tray of moist potting media, covering them completely. Set under a grow light in a cool space that stays around 50°F. Be sure to check them every few days and in about 10 days time, your sprouted ranunculus should be ready to plant outside, once the risk of hard frost has passed.

The best place to plant ranunculus or persian buttercups

Ranunculus do best in places with mild winters and long, cool springs although they will do well in zones 3 through 10. In zones 8 thru 10, plant in fall. Regions with colder winters (zones 3 thru 7) can plant in early spring, once hard frosts have passed. Note that these zones must dig up ranunculus bulbs at the end of the season and store in a cool, dry place until spring planting. Corms can be stored in dry peat moss or in a mesh bag.

Your guide to caring for ranunculus

Ranunculus bulbs should be planted four to six inches apart and one to two inches deep. The pointed ends of the corms should face downward when planting. Ranunculus prefer at least six hours of full sun per day, although they don’t mind some shade, particularly in the heat of the afternoon. Nutrient-rich soil is ideal for ranunculus and fertilizing prior to bloom with a well-balanced fertilizer or compost is recommended. Take care not to overfertilize as this can burn the foliage of the plant, stunting their blooming potential. Those planted in spring will produce prolific blooms for four to six weeks while fall-planted ranunculus can bloom for up to eight weeks.

For more information about planting, growing, and caring for ranunculus bulbs, see the Ranunculus Bulbs Planting Guide.