How to Plant Ranunculus Bulbs

Ranunculus asiaticus is the glamorous cousin of the buttercup, a sometimes weedy but happy little flower that grows prolifically in meadows and untamed landscapes. The Persian buttercup, however, grows from a bulb and blooms in the late spring or early summer. Providing beautiful furls of petals and pretty dark centers perfect for cut flower arrangements, R. asiaticus is an easy summer bulb to cultivate.

Care For Ranunculus

Select a site for your ranunculus where the plants can receive five or six hours of sunlight each day in a well-drained location. Use a raised bed if good drainage cannot be assured to prevent rotting of ranunculus tubers. Use a soaker hose or other form of ground irrigation to avoid wetting flowers once ranunculus begins to bud. Remove spent flowers to encourage additional bloom. Apply fertilizer to the planting bed after foliage dies down. A balanced fertilizer blend, such as 10-10-10, bone meal or a fertilizer blend designed specifically for flower bulbs, can be used, following product instructions. Allow ranunculus tubers to dry for about one or two weeks. Store in a cool, dry place.