If you have ever fallen in love with a bouquet and wondered what those impossibly layered, tissue-paper-petaled flowers were, chances are you were looking at Ranunculus. These cool-season beauties are among the most sought-after blooms in the floral world, and we are delighted to say that they are also wonderfully growable in the home garden. Ranunculus thrive in zones 4–11, with planting time depending on your climate. With blooms in every imaginable shade of white, cream, yellow, orange, red, pink, and raspberry, she is the perfect bridge between the winter garden and the arrival of your roses.
The Rose-Like Bloom That Fills the Gap Before the Roses
Ranunculus blooms arrive in early to mid-spring, precisely when the garden is waking up and the anticipation for summer flowers is at its peak. Her ruffled, multi-petaled flowers look almost too beautiful to be real, sitting atop slender stems that are perfect for cutting. In fact, the vase life of Ranunculus is impressive, up to two weeks with fresh water, making her one of the very best cutting garden flowers you can grow.
In the garden bed, Ranunculus works beautifully planted in mass in a dedicated cutting patch, tucked into the front of a rose border, or planted in containers on a sunny patio or porch. She pairs gorgeously with Anemone, Tulips, and Daffodils for a layered spring display that will have your neighbors stopping to ask what you are growing. We especially love planting Ranunculus in a mix of colors so the corms produce a naturally varied, painterly effect as the blooms open in succession.
Ranunculus is also a wonderful choice for gardeners who love to bring the garden indoors. Harvest stems when the buds are just beginning to crack open for the longest vase life, and enjoy them in arrangements all through spring. The more you cut, the more she blooms.
Planting and Care
Watch our step-by-step planting tutorial below, then follow along with the written guide for all the details.
Ranunculus corms look a bit unusual, small and dark and claw-like, but do not let their appearance fool you. Before planting, soak your corms in room-temperature water for 3–4 hours to rehydrate them. Avoid soaking longer than this, as it can encourage rot before they get into the ground.
Choose a location in full sun, as Ranunculus needs all the light she can get to produce her best blooms. Before planting, amend the soil with a generous layer of compost and a teaspoon of Heirloom™ Bone Meal at the base of each planting hole to encourage strong root development and early bloom. Plant the corms 2–3 inches deep and approximately 9 inches apart, with the tentacle-like roots facing downward. Water after planting and continue weekly watering throughout the growing season to ensure the corms do not dry out. Consistent moisture is the key to vigorous growth and continuous bloom. Once foliage emerges, feed every two to three weeks with Founders Fish Fertilizer to support steady growth and prolific blooming.
In zones 8–11, plant corms in fall for late winter and spring blooms. In zones 4–7, wait until the soil can be worked in early spring and plant then for mid-summer blooms. Ranunculus does not love hard frost once she has emerged, so if a late freeze is expected, cover her with a light frost cloth overnight.
As the weather warms and bloom time comes to an end, the foliage will naturally yellow and die back. Allow this process to happen naturally so the corm can store energy for the following season. In warmer zones you can leave corms in the ground year-round; in zones 4–7, lift them after the foliage dies back, let them dry in a cool spot for a week or two, and store them in a breathable bag in a cool, dry location until replanting time.
Three of our favorites this season are: Elegance Pastello La Dolce Vita Mix, a dreamy blend of soft pastels that looks like it belongs in an Italian flower market; Tecolote Merlot, a deeply saturated wine-red with layer upon layer of silky petals; and Pastello Striato, with its delicate striped petals in soft blush and cream that make every stem look hand-painted.