Overall, ranunculus is an easy plant to grow and it’s fairly pest and disease resistant. Ranunculus needs plenty of sunlight to grow well. Ranunculus grows best in moist soil, but does not like overwatering. If soil is not well-draining, ranunculus corms often rot. Ranunculus is a genus of perennial or annual herbs in the Ranunculaceae family. The leaves are usually alternate and palmately lobed or divided. While the thimble-like, April-blooming, often shiny flowers are most commonly yellow, cultivars have been bred bearing many other colors such as orange, pink, red, and white. Ranunculus plants grow best in the spring time when the soil temperatures are about 55 degrees (F). However, in geographical areas that have warmer climates, ranunculus seeds can be planted in the fall as well.

1. Ranunculus Growing Conditions
2. How To Plant Ranunculus Corms
3. Ranunculus Growing Instructions

By Michael MacCaskey

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.

Where and How Ranunculus Grow Best

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.

Planting Ranunculus

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 Growing Conditions

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.

How To Plant Ranunculus Corms

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.

Do you know when to plant ranunculus? This can be a little tricky if you don’t know what you’re doing. However, when you successfully follow the right process, what you’ll get is a gorgeous flower that’ll add that special something to your home or business.

For those individuals who are unfamiliar with the ranunculus plant, there are nearly 500 different kinds of ranunculus species. Some of these include the ranunculus allenii, the ranunculus bullatus, and the ranunculus canus just to name a few. Not only are these plants beautiful, certain kinds of the ranunculus are also used to make a variety of medicines too.

When to plant ranunculus seeds?

When should you plant ranunculus seeds? Ranunculus plants grow best in the spring time when the soil temperatures are about 55 degrees (F). However, in geographical areas that have warmer climates, ranunculus seeds can be planted in the fall as well.

The bloom time for ranunculus seeds planted in the fall is around March, and when planted in the early spring, the bloom time is in either July or August. After fully bloomed, the ranunculus plant will last around 6 weeks before they start to wither away and die.

Growers interested in getting their hands on some ranunculus seeds or ranunculus bulbs will be able to purchase them from their local nursery usually during the fall. When choosing your bulbs, make sure you examine them for quality. By doing so, you’ll have a better gardening experience when your ranunculus plants are fully bloomed. So, what should you look for when choosing the right bulbs?

First, the larger the bulb, the higher amount of stored nutritional energy. The more energy that’s stored in the bulb, the better the flower will bloom. This means that the plant will be much stronger while also growing many more flowers in comparison to a nutritionally-deficient bulb.

Another thing you’ll want to look at is the color of the bulb. If you see brown or even black spots, that may be a sign that the bulb is nutritionally-deficient or experiencing some sort of plant decay. Once you find some good bulbs, then it’s time to start the planting process. Now that you know when to plant ranunculus, it’s time to ask the question, where to plant ranunculus seeds or bulbs?

Where to plant ranunculus seeds or bulbs?

In geographical areas where cooler temperatures are more common (zone 4, and zone 5), ranunculus seeds should be planted in the spring and will grow better in either plastic or glass containers. By growing your ranunculus in small containers, you’ll also be able to watch your flowers grow right in front of your eyes.

On the other hand, in warmer temperatures (zone 6, zone 8, and zone 10), ranunculus seeds and bulbs can be planted in the late summer or fall and will grow better in gardening beds, boarders, cutting gardens, and other areas of the ground.

It’s important to note though that plants grown in zone 6, zone 8, and even zone 10 are more tolerate to the winter than say a plant grown in Zone 4. You don’t have to worry about your plants getting frostbite as much in these zones.

When you do start the planting process, you should remember that ranunculus seeds should typically be planted about 4 inches from each other and 2 inches deep. This gives them the necessary room to grow. When finding the right spot to plant your ranunculus, find an area with well-drained soil. Soil that’s not well-drained and stays wet for long periods will eventually rot the plant and ultimately kill it as well.

Watering your ranunculus is also another important step in the growing process. When watering, go light until you see the first part off the plant start to emerge out from the soil. From there, increase your watering, but also make sure that you don’t over water either. This could rot or kill your plants.

Once your flowers begin to show signs of color, many gardeners suggest cutting them. This will allow your bouquets to stay in good condition for a much longer period. Many people fear that if they cut these flowers off, they may harm the plant, and that is just not true. In fact, your ranunculus plant will continue to bloom if not bloom more than it already did when you snip these flowers.

Ranunculus Growing Instructions

Last but not least, it’s essential that you leave the foliage in the ground once the growing season has come to an end. Why? The left over foliage will provide nourishment to the soil and ultimately help the next ranunculus plant that you grow in that location.

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