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Herbaceous Perennial

Ranunculus asiaticus

Persian buttercup

A tuberous perennial with long-stalked, deeply lobed leaves. Branched flowering stems bear one to four single, cup-shaped, red, pink, yellow or white flowers with black centres in late spring and early summer

Other common names

garden ranunculus

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Ranunculaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten, skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten, skin irritant - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Ranunculus can be annuals, biennials, evergreen or herbaceous perennials, with rhizomes, tubers or spreading by runners. The leaves are variable but often palmately lobed or dissected and the flowers usually bowl-shaped
Name status: Correct
Plant range: S Europe, SW Asia

How to grow

Cultivation

Requires a dry, dormant period in summer; grows best in containers with a mix of equal parts loam, leaf mould and grit under unheated glass with good light and ventilation

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe, or divide in spring or autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Mediterranean climate plants
City and courtyard gardens
Gravel garden
Patio and container plants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews

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