Ranunculus

The Buttercup genus (Ranunculus) contains 300 species of herbaceous annuals and perennials, stable and relatively resistant plants. They are characterized by simple or densely double flowers of various, very bright colors. They bloom in late spring and early summer. Leaves - palmate, dissected, or lobed. Among the most common decorative types, the ones listed below are popular. Pungent buttercup (Ranunculus acris, or R. acer) is a perennial plant with palm-dissected leaves, known in culture for the variety 'Flora Pleno' with double bright yellow flowers. Buttercup acontifolius - a perennial, stable species up to 60 cm high; has a branched pubescent stem, simple white flowers, double-in the variety 'Double', several pieces per stem, blooms in May-June. The subalpine buttercup (R. alpestris) is a 30 cm high perennial with dissected leaves and white flowers. Asian buttercup, or garden buttercup (R. asiaticus), is a perennial, relatively stable, 30-50 cm high; the stem is simple or branched; the leaves are three-divided; the roots are tuberous, fleshy. The flowers are white, yellow, or purple in color. Numerous of the most valuable and widespread varieties and forms have been obtained from this species. Blooms in June-July. Buttercup glacial (r. glacialis) is an unpretentious perennial groundcover species with pink or white flowers and deeply dissected leaves. It is found in the wild on the rocky soil of the highlands.

The Buttercup genus (Ranunculus) contains 300 species of herbaceous annuals and perennials, stable and relatively resistant plants. They are characterized by simple or densely double flowers of various, very bright colors. They bloom in late spring and early summer. Leaves - palmate, dissected, or lobed. Among the most common decorative types, the ones listed below are popular.

Pungent buttercup (Ranunculus acris, or R. acer) is a perennial plant with palm-dissected leaves, known in culture for the variety 'Flora Pleno' with double bright yellow flowers.

Buttercup acontifolius - a perennial, stable species up to 60 cm high; has a branched pubescent stem, simple white flowers, double-in the variety 'Double', several pieces per stem, blooms in May-June.

The subalpine buttercup (R. alpestris) is a 30 cm high perennial with dissected leaves and white flowers.

Asian buttercup, or garden buttercup (R. asiaticus), is a perennial, relatively stable, 30-50 cm high; the stem is simple or branched; the leaves are three-divided; the roots are tuberous, fleshy. The flowers are white, yellow, or purple in color. Numerous of the most valuable and widespread varieties and forms have been obtained from this species. Blooms in June-July.

Buttercup glacial (r. glacialis) is an unpretentious perennial groundcover species with pink or white flowers and deeply dissected leaves. It is found in the wild on the rocky soil of the highlands.

Cultivation

It is used for planting in flower beds, in mixborders, for cutting and forcing. Asian buttercup grows well in open ground on organic-rich soil, such as peat, or manure-fertilized soil. It is responsive to the application of mineral fertilizers with a high potassium content at the rate of 40-50 g/m2, and when grown in a pot - 30-40 g per bucket of soil. Before flowering, it is recommended to feed with a solution of mullein. Some species, such as the white-leaved buttercup (R. parnassifolius), like calcareous ground. The Asian buttercup has two groups: Persian, or Asian, which are characterized by different shapes and colors; and turban - shaped, or African, with larger leaves and flowers with inward-curved petals.

It is used for planting in flower beds, in mixborders, for cutting and forcing. Asian buttercup grows well in open ground on organic-rich soil, such as peat, or manure-fertilized soil. It is responsive to the application of mineral fertilizers with a high potassium content at the rate of 40-50 g/m2, and when grown in a pot - 30-40 g per bucket of soil. Before flowering, it is recommended to feed with a solution of mullein.

Some species, such as the white-leaved buttercup (R. parnassifolius), like calcareous ground.

The Asian buttercup has two groups: Persian, or Asian, which are characterized by different shapes and colors; and turban - shaped, or African, with larger leaves and flowers with inward-curved petals.

Location

The best place is intensely lit, but you can also plant buttercups in partial shade, which allows you to preserve the gloss of the color of the flowers and contributes to a long flowering period.

Temperature

Almost all species are resistant to both high and low temperatures, with the exception of some species, such as the Asian buttercup. Most types are frost-resistant.

Watering

Asian buttercup successfully grows on constantly moistened soil, with regular watering, other species (R. aquatilisi, R. lingua) also prefer moist soils.

Transplant

Container specimens of Asian buttercup are transplanted into a new container - each time larger - in summer and autumn using the same soil that was recommended for cultivation; in autumn, other species are transplanted.

Reproduction

Seeds are sown in March-April in holes and containers with a light nutrient mixture, covered with a layer of soil on top. Shoots appear in a month, in April-May. Seedlings are dug in the open ground, and in the fall, root tubers are selected from the ground, dried and stored, covered with sand. Store at 4-6 °C. In May, root tubers after soaking in water for a day are planted in flower beds to a depth of 3-4 cm (loamy soil) or 5-7 cm (sandy loam). Grown and formed buttercup bushes (2-3-year-old) can be divided.

Diseases

The leaves and peduncles of buttercups are covered with white mold due to oidium, and due to infection with various other fungi, brown spots are formed on the petioles and petals, accompanied by necrosis. In this case, the plants are discarded. The most dangerous pests are nematodes that infect the roots, and cabbage butterflies that eat the leaves. They get rid of them, respectively, with the help of nematocidal and insecticidal preparations.

Acquisition

Asian buttercup and its common forms and varieties are easy to acquire in the spring. Buy healthy seedlings in the early flowering phase.

Other types Buttercups are used for planting in flower beds, in mixborders, for cutting and forcing. Buttercup cortusifolius (Ranunculus cortusifolius) is a perennial species with strong peduncles up to 1.2 m high. Leathery heart-shaped lobed leaves from the bottom up along the stem become smaller so much that they turn into small bracts. Numerous fragrant golden-yellow flowers are collected in corymbs. Buttercup ficaria is a perennial species with dark green heart-shaped leaves collected in rosettes. Golden-yellow flowers are most often solitary. It is grown in ordinary gardens and rock gardens. There are many cultivars. Buttercup mountain (R. montanus) - a perennial rhizomatous species with a height of about 15 cm. The leaves are collected in rosettes and are located on thin stems. The sepals of glossy golden-yellow flowers are covered with a thick short down. Buttercup oakwood (r. nemorosus is a perennial species with serrated-edged leaves. Branched peduncles with a height of 20 to 80 cm are erect, pubescent. Golden yellow flowers are large, up to 4 cm in diameter. The Pyrenean buttercup (R. pyrenaeus) is a perennial species with a height of 10-30 cm. The shape of dark green leaves is linear to oblong-lanceolate. White flowers with a diameter of 2 cm are solitary or collected in small groups. Blooms in June-July. R. segueri buttercup is a perennial species with paw-shaped basal leaves consisting of 5-7 lobes. The diameter of single white flowers is up to 2.5 cm. The thora buttercup (R. thora) is a stable perennial species up to 30 cm tall, with tuberous roots. From the beginning of May to the end of June, yellow flowers bloom.

Other types

Buttercups are used for planting in flower beds, in mixborders, for cutting and forcing.

Buttercup cortusifolius (Ranunculus cortusifolius) is a perennial species with strong peduncles up to 1.2 m high. Leathery heart-shaped lobed leaves from the bottom up along the stem become smaller so much that they turn into small bracts. Numerous fragrant golden-yellow flowers are collected in corymbs.

Buttercup ficaria is a perennial species with dark green heart-shaped leaves collected in rosettes. Golden-yellow flowers are most often solitary. It is grown in ordinary gardens and rock gardens. There are many cultivars.

Buttercup mountain (R. montanus) - a perennial rhizomatous species with a height of about 15 cm. The leaves are collected in rosettes and are located on thin stems. The sepals of glossy golden-yellow flowers are covered with a thick short down.

Buttercup oakwood (r. nemorosus is a perennial species with serrated-edged leaves. Branched peduncles with a height of 20 to 80 cm are erect, pubescent. Golden yellow flowers are large, up to 4 cm in diameter.

The Pyrenean buttercup (R. pyrenaeus) is a perennial species with a height of 10-30 cm. The shape of dark green leaves is linear to oblong-lanceolate. White flowers with a diameter of 2 cm are solitary or collected in small groups. Blooms in June-July. R. segueri buttercup is a perennial species with paw-shaped basal leaves consisting of 5-7 lobes. The diameter of single white flowers is up to 2.5 cm.

The thora buttercup (R. thora) is a stable perennial species up to 30 cm tall, with tuberous roots. From the beginning of May to the end of June, yellow flowers bloom.