FYI, This Is the ‘It’ Flower That Will Be Trending All Summer Long
Ranunculus are easy to grow, last long when cut, and are as frilly as a peony—what’s not to love?
Photography by Georgianna Lane. Reprinted by permission of Gibbs Smith.
Trends are everywhere—even when it comes to flowers. One year a particular bloom is flourishing, and the next, it’s compost. This year, we suggest planting ranunculus in your cut flower garden or arranging the blooms in your favorite vase. Not only are these flowers easy to grow, it’s impossible not to love their ruffled blooms and citrus scent.
According to Floral Daily, ranunculus has risen in popularity thanks to its long vase life and vast array of colors—including Pantone’s Color of the Year. Meanwhile, there’s a whole book devoted to the flower, Ranunculus: Beautiful Varieties for Home and Garden, by Naomi Slade, and brides love to carry them down the aisle. On Instagram, #ranunculus has almost a million posts, and there are countless tutorials on TikTok. (Some people even have the flower tattooed on their arm.)
Photography by Georgianna Lane. Reprinted by permission of Gibbs Smith.
“There’s a real appreciation of classic blooms at the moment and ranunculus fits in with that really well,” says author Slade. “There’s a voluptuousness and elegance to them. They’re a glamorous flower.”
To grow ranunculus, purchase the corms at your local garden center or order them online. (Eden Brothers has 50 shades on offer.) Once they’re in your happy hands, soak the corms in water for four hours. Next, find a spot in your garden that has full sun exposure and well-draining soil. Plant the corms two to three inches deep and four to six inches apart with the “octopus legs” side down. (The corms look a little like those cute cephalopods.) Water whenever the soil just under the surface feels dry.
Photography by Georgianna Lane. Reprinted by permission of Gibbs Smith.
If you’d rather purchase ranunculus to use in bouquets, try your local farmers market or florist. As always, trim the stems at an angle, and don’t place your flowers in the sun. Remember to change the water every few days. Not an expensive flower to buy, the blooms are particularly well known for being long-lasting, which means for all their glamour they’re a great budget pick, too. “They last for ages in a vase—particularly the new butterfly ranunculus,” Slade says, pointing out that they are a bit waxy, which helps them keep. “I came home with armfuls after a photo shoot, and they literally lasted for weeks!”
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