It comes in almost every color except blue, and some of the most exotic varieties have green centers, variegated petals, and picotee edges. ‘Giant Tecolote’ produces large double-flowered blooms up to 6 inches wide on stems as tall as 2 feet.Both have cup-shaped flowers that look like a hybrid of a peony and a tea rose, with abundant layers of papery petals set off by feathery parsley-like leaves. asiaticus are commonly cultivated for planting in home gardens. Bloom time:Įarly spring to summer, depending on the climate. Can be successfully grown as an annual in cooler climates (zone 7 and below). The name is derived from the Latin word rana, or frog, because of the plant’s preference for wet growing conditions. On this page: Ranunculus Basics | Buying Tips | Planting Guide | Pictures | Ideas for Using Ranunculus “With so many wonderful qualities - tall stems, double-ruffled blooms, a light citrusy rose fragrance, high productivity, and one of the widest color ranges imaginable - it is impossible not to fall head over heels for these beauties,” says grower and floral designer Erin Benzakein, author of Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden: Grow, Harvest & Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms.

Although ranunculus is a frost-tender tuber, it can be grown as an annual in most climates, and the bulbs are inexpensive and widely available at many nurseries and mail-order suppliers. But if you’re an admirer of ranunculus and have been longing to grow your own, it’s easier than you might think. These show-stopping spring bloomers have long been a favorite of commercial florists because of their brilliantly colored flowers and long vase life. Unless you live in a mild Southern California climate, you are more apt to see ranunculus (Persian buttercups) in a floral shop or bridal bouquet instead of growing in your neighbor’s garden.

Variagated creeping buttercup