PlantFiles: Ranunculus, Persian Buttercup,Turban Buttercup, Persian Crowfoot
Ranunculus asiaticus

I found these really easy to grow. I got the bulbs at the dollar store and soaked them overnight. Some I planted in the ground and some in pots. The ones I started inside in pots are booming now and the ones I planted a few weeks later directly in the ground have come up also, just not blooming just yet. Beautiful Colors!!!

I have grown these in Long Beach, Ca. for years with great results. Because we have heavy clay soil, I start them by soaking tubers overnight in warm water. Next day , I plant them in saved 6 packs. After about 3 or 4 weeks they are ready to go in the ground to which I have added sand and organic matter for drainage.
They don't like wet feet!!! Mine are usually good until June. I don't bother saving the tubers...just buy new ones...they're cheap...

I overbought ranunculus bulbs 2 years ago and found they didn't grow in the area (St. Louis, MO), moved to TX and decided to give a couple bags of bulbs a try. I dug a small trench and just poured out the bulbs. I was pleasantly surprised that they came up despite sitting in my garage for 2 years. They have been blooming nonstop for 3 weeks. This fall I will only plant the doubles - but my original purchase from WalMart ($3 for a mixed color bag with single and doubles) was well worth it!

Here in central Texas, zone 8, I found this ranunculus in the local garden centers in late February (hot house grown obviously) and in full rose-like bloom. Gorgeous. I brought home 6 six-inch pots and transferred them into 2 of my front window boxes...each gets about 5 hours of full sun on the southern exposure. It's now late April and they all have been in bloom and repeat and repeat and repeat after deadheading nonstop since late Feb. They do not like much water...they will get leggy, wilt and fade too quickly. I only water a little bit once a week right now. Perfect! Great deal for the cost!

This is my third year growing Ranunculus. Saved tubers from last year and am hoping to do better this time. Without enough light they tend to get leggy and need support. However, they wilt when exposed to very much of our hot direct sun. Also a bit prone to downy mildew.

For some reason, I thought I heard these beauties were temperamental, but when I saw them in Home Depot on Sunday, I had to have them. They call these the Bloomingdale mix. They had so many two-tone colors to choose from, but I finally settled on these, with light pink-peach centers and darker mauve tips. I had read that they prefer full sun, however, with the temps already in the mid-80s F here [Sunset border of zones 8 & 14 in N. California], they started wilting on day 2 in the sun. I watered and moved them to part shade, and they wilted after 2 days again. I guess I'll just keep watering them every other day until either the weather cools off or one of us gives up.

I put a few of these in late last fall and they don't do well with being wet and cold. So started some in 4 inch pots. Then set them out when they were about 4 inches tall. Thanks to one of the wettest and coldest Aprils in a long while here in Northern CA, they are just now are really showing off.

Spring is just starting here in zone 9 coastal Northern CA -- these new picotee (bi-colored) hybrid ranunculus have just entered the garden depts at Home Depot. Never liked ranunculus before but they certainly add a welcome jolt of bright color to the garden, with the perennials now cut back and only the osteospermums and magnolias in bloom. These new picotee hybrids are lovely and look more like a rose. Here in the West it is recommended they be dug up and stored over the summer to avoid irrigation which might cause rot.

Native to East Mediterranean, Northeast Africa, Southwest Asia. Also known as Persian Buttercups. These are not hardy in areas colder than zones 7-9, so lift before first frost. These plants flower best when left undisturbed after planting.