All About Ranunculus

Apr 16
2 min read

It is no wonder she's an annual favorite! Ranunculus offer a long vase life and hearty adaptability.

Year to year, we expect to see ranunculus

available starting in mid-April until the first half of June.

Spring Flowers are Particular Miracles

All flowers, but especially Spring flowers, are grown with a particular amount of care and attention. Colorado's unpredictable Spring weather only adds to work required to grow them successfully. We are grateful for the magic and miracle of each Spring bloom.

Dreams of ranunculus begin in the cold, barren months of January or February when growers begin the pre-sprouting process of soaking the ranunculus corm (above) until they've plumped and doubled in size.

From there, the corms are planted indoors until they begin to show signs of life. Soil moisture and proper temperatures must be maintained to promote growth. As the corms begin to sprout, they can be transplanted outside under high tunnels or in greenhouses.

Once planted, the work is far from over. The sporadic Spring temperatures in Colorado require the constant attention of the farmer. This means daily lifting of tunnel walls to prevent overheating or covering with additional frost cloth when freezing temperatures are expected.

Ranunculus are annuals, so this soaking, pre-sprouting, and planting process takes place every year.

Harvesting ranunculus at just the right time contributes to the longest vase life. Growers harvest when the head of the flower feels squishy like a marshmallow. When harvested properly, you can expect 10-12 days in the vase!

The attention and care required to produce these blooms is a ten-stem bunch of tiny miracles every time!

V A R I E T Y

Most common is the classic shape of ranunculus with petals on petals for their iconic, fluffy, deliciousness. Local farmers also grow the delicate Tecolote and Butterfly varieties, which you may be a little less familiar with. For the longest vase life, choose classic or butterfly varieties.

Note that the Classic and Tecolote are 10-stem bunches while Butterfly ranunculus are sold in a "grower's bunch" with 5-10 stems depending on the fullness of their branching stems.

Left to Right: Open Faced Tecolote, Classic Ranunculus, Butterfly Ranunculus

Here you can see the difference between the classic red and white ranunculus and the open-faced salmon tecolote variety. Tecolote ranunculus are reminiscent of poppies with their bold centers. Pro tip: White tecolote ranunculus with yellow centers are a great sub for cosmos when you need that daisy look in the spring before cosmos are blooming. — *Here you can see the difference between the classic red and white ranunculus and the open-faced salmon tecolote variety. Tecolote ranunculus are reminiscent of poppies with their bold centers.* ***Pro tip:*** *White tecolote ranunculus with yellow centers are a great sub for cosmos when you need that daisy look in the spring before cosmos are blooming.*

C O L O R

Ranunculus are available in a wide array of dynamic colors. Local farms grow a variety of hues which change from year to year. Be sure to check the Catalog in the online shop to see what's expected this season!