Cheer up, Buttercup! Ranunculus Offer an Early Spring Burst of Color and Instant Mood Boost

March came in like a lamb (60 and sunny), went out like a lion (41 and gloomy), and disintegrated into a completely different scary beast altogether as we saw a steep ascent in the number of coronavirus cases. With our social activities on pause and daily lives disrupted right now as we practice social distancing and staying at home, it’s reassuring to know that nature is still here for us and wide open for business. Going outside for fresh air has been the best way for me to take a break from the constant scrolling on my phone for news alerts and updated numbers on the coronavirus pandemic.  I try to get outdoors to unplug at least once a day except for the worst of weather days, either to take a walk or work in my yard.  

No matter where you live, March and April are good months to kick-start your gardening for the year.  March in Indiana means crocuses and daffodils are blooming; shoots of lilies, irises and tulips are starting to come up; and spring planting can begin for cold-hardy annuals that can withstand light frost like pansies and ranunculus (also known as ornamental Persian buttercups).  Both are some of the happiest flowers around, pansies with their sunny little “faces” and ranunculus with their big showy flowers made up of perfectly layered tissue-thin petals.  Pansies have long been a March staple for me, but I only discovered ranunculus within the past couple of years.  In gardening zones 3-7, you can plant ranunculus as annuals outdoors during the months of March through May – a week or two before the typical last frost.  For southern US climates (gardening zones 8-10) ranunculus are perennials and can be planted in the fall, returning to bloom each spring.

Ranunculus only have two main drawbacks in my opinion, the first being that rabbits LOVE to eat them, and the second that they won’t withstand hot weather.  For the longest-lasting blooms, spray them with Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent so the rabbits don’t devour them, and plant them early to enjoy their blooming season as long as possible.  You’ll have to play a bit of roulette with the weather each year as they perform best when the spring season is long and cool.  If May is mild and not blazing hot, you should be able to enjoy your ranunculus until early June.

Plant buttercups at least 4 inches apart where they will get full sun in well-drained soil.  They also work well in containers.  Water them with Miracle-Gro Quick Start immediately after planting and again a week later.  Otherwise, water as normal.  If you live an area with lots of rabbits, spray them when the weather is dry shortly after planting with Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent, then repeat application one week later, one more week after that, and then once a month after that.  This stuff is really good!  It’s the only rabbit repellent I’ve found that really works, and it won’t damage your flowers. Ranunculus don’t need any other care and will bloom without much work from you. Just remember to water them if it doesn’t rain often enough.

You can cut your ranunculus to enjoy indoors in a vase too because they last about seven days after cutting.

Persian buttercups (Ranunculus Asiaticus) look almost like large roses or small peonies, with the added bonus of not becoming the ant magnets that peonies are.  The flowers come in many colors, including white, cream, peach, yellow, orange, red, burgundy and shades of pink.

After the flowers fade and summer heat sets in, for those in northern climates where they are annuals, pull out the plants and compost or dispose of them.  I like to replace them with dahlias, which are beautiful and equally showy flowers that will take up about the same amount of room, and should last all summer until first frost in the fall if you keep them watered.

This year I ordered six ranunculus plants from my local nursery, Allisonville Nursery, who delivered them for free.  I plan to take advantage of their delivery again in the future as long as this pandemic lasts.  I miss going to the store and browsing plants to select my favorites, but they did an excellent job picking beautiful flowers for my order!

Have you done any gardening yet this year? What are your planting plans? I’d love to hear about the ways you’re enjoying your garden and getting outdoors now that spring is here. Wishing all of you a healthy spring at home.