Ranunculus are beautiful flowers that can add pops of color and lovely texture to any garden. With their ruffled, layered petals and wide range of bright colors, it’s no wonder they are favorite flowers for bouquets and landscaping. But if you’re considering planting these beauties, you likely want to know – how tall do ranunculus plants grow?
Understanding the mature size of ranunculus is helpful for planning where to place them in your garden design Read on to learn all about the typical height range of these plants along with tips for growing tall ranunculus varieties successfully
Average Ranunculus Height
On average, most ranunculus varieties will reach 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) when fully mature However, some species and cultivars grow taller or shorter than this range
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Miniature ranunculus may only reach 6-8 inches tall. These tiny varieties are ideal for containers and edging the front of beds.
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Tall ranunculus species can grow over 2 feet tall. These make excellent cut flowers and background plants.
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Tecolote ranunculus often reach 10-12 inches in height.
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The Ranunculus Giant Mixture grows 10-12 inches tall.
So in general, you can expect ranunculus to reach 1-2 feet tall when fully grown, depending on the variety. Be sure to give them adequate space in all directions to reach their maximum size potential.
Ideal Planting Locations
Due to their moderate mature height, ranunculus are perfectly suited for planting in the middle or front of flower beds and borders. Place taller flowers and plants behind them to create a layered, tiered effect.
Ranunculus look beautiful planted on their own in rows or patches. You can also mix them with other mid-height flowers like tulips, iris, and ornamental alliums.
For a casual cottage garden look, scatter ranunculus bulbs throughout a bed filled with diverse blooms. The ranunculus will stand out nicely against the mix of colors and textures.
Container plantings are another excellent way to showcase ranunculus. Choose a pot that’s wider than the ranunculus’ mature spread to avoid overcrowding the roots. Mini varieties in particular thrive in containers.
Factors That Influence Height
Several factors can cause ranunculus plants to grow taller or shorter than their typical size:
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Genetics – Some species and cultivated varieties are predisposed to larger or smaller sizes. Selecting the right bulb type is key.
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Climate – Warm, sunny conditions help ranunculus reach full size potential. Cool weather can stunt growth.
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Soil – Rich, well-draining soil encourages vigorous growth. Poor soils restrict height.
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Spacing – Overcrowding causes ranunculus to stretch taller as they compete for light.
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Bloom time – Plants are shortest when first sprouting and reach full height at flowering.
Considering these factors and choosing suitable varieties helps ensure your ranunculus grow to the perfect size for your garden.
Caring for Tall Varieties
If you select giant ranunculus exceeding 2 feet tall, some extra care is needed:
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Provide staking or support cages to prevent tall stems from flopping over.
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Pinch or trim any leggy stems to encourage bushy growth.
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Water deeply and fertilize regularly to meet the greater nutrient needs.
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Plant in groups of 3 or 5 for better pollination and full blooms.
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Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming.
With a little extra TLC, tall ranunculus varieties will reward you with phenomenal floral displays!
Enjoying Ranunculus at All Heights
One of the best things about ranunculus is the wide diversity of sizes available. You can take advantage of this by:
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Creating a mixed height border with giant ranunculus in back and mini ones in front.
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Combining tall cut ranunculus with short potted ones in arrangements.
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Allowing different heights to intermingle for a natural, casual look.
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Using taller ranunculus as focal points surrounded by low groundcovers.
Ranunculus bloom beautifully at all heights, so don’t hesitate to get creative with them in your garden design. Pay attention to their mature sizes for optimal performance.
Final Tips
To summarize key points about ranunculus height:
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Most grow 1-2 feet tall when fully mature.
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Check plant tag or description for exact height of each variety.
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Allow adequate space for plants to reach full size.
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Use taller types in back of beds, shorter ones in front.
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Mini varieties suit containers and edging perfectly.
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Provide support as needed for extra tall varieties.
With their gorgeous blossoms and easygoing nature, ranunculus bring charm to gardens at any height! Start planning now to add these delightful flowers to your beds, borders, and containers this season.
Do Ranunculus Grow Back Every Year?
Ranunculus can be both perennials or annuals and will grow back unless conditions permit this. Annuals are grown from bulbs that are removed from the soil after the previous growth season. Perennials grow from bulbs that have been left in the ground.
How to Grow Ranunculus From Seed
Most ranunculus flowers are grown from corms; however, it is possible to produce them from seeds. The seeds should be started indoors about 12 weeks before the average date of your last spring frost.
- Fill a seed-starting tray with growing mix and water until the mixture is moist, but not standing in water.
- Sprinkle ranunculus seed generously on top of the growing mix, then add a thin layer of seed-starting mix over the seeds. Press the soil down gently with your hand after you are done.
- Place the seeds under a grow light and keep the tray at a temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit until they germinate in about 20 to 30 days.
- Thin the plants when the seedlings are about 2 inches high and continue growing under the grow lights.
- Transplant the seedlings into 2- to 3-inch pots and begin to harden off the seedlings when daytime temperatures are in the upper 40s. Bring the plants indoors at night or anytime frost threatens.
- Plant in the garden when temperatures are reliably in the upper 50 to 60-degree Fahrenheit range.
HOW to PLANT and GROW RANUNCULUS plus TIPS for growing ranunculus in HOT CLIMATES
FAQ
Do ranunculus like sun or shade?
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Light:Ranunculus need ample sunlight, ideally at least six hours a day, but can tolerate partial shade, especially in hot climates.
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Soil:They prefer well-draining soil, rich in organic matter, and moderately moist, but not waterlogged.
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Watering:Water established plants in the morning once a week, and stop watering when the plant becomes dormant in the fall and stops producing flowers.
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Planting:Plant corms 2-3 inches deep and 6-9 inches apart, with the “pointed” ends facing downward.
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Climate:In areas with mild winters (USDA zones 7 and above), ranunculus can be planted in the fall and overwintered outdoors with protection. In colder areas, they may need to be grown in a minimally heated hoop house or held back and planted out at the end of winter or in early spring.
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Heat Protection:In hot climates, provide some afternoon shade to protect the plants from heat stress.
Does ranunculus come back every year?
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Perennial Nature:Ranunculus are perennials, meaning they can live for more than two years, but they are not hardy in freezing temperatures.
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Corms:They grow from corms, which are swollen underground stems that store nutrients and energy for the plant.
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Annual Treatment in Colder Climates:In colder climates, the corms are unlikely to survive the winter, so many gardeners treat ranunculus as annuals and start with new corms each spring.
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Blooming:Ranunculus only bloom once per year, but they can bloom again the following year if the corms are left in the ground in suitable climates.
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Ideal Conditions:They thrive in cool, moist conditions and prefer full sun to partial shade.
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Zone 8-10:Ranunculus are winter hardy in zones 8-10, where they can be left in the ground and will return the following year.
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Zones 4-7:In colder areas (zones 4-7), ranunculus are usually treated as annuals, with fresh corms planted each spring.
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Care:To encourage the plants to come back a second year, make sure to plant them in very well-drained soil.
Why is it so hard to grow ranunculus?
If soil temps exceed 70*F the plants will begin to shut down, stop producing, and go dormant. Ranunculus do best when planted in the fall in zones 6 and above (maybe even 5 and above). If you are in zone 5 or below, they will most likely do best planted in early spring.
How tall do ranunculus get?
It features cup-shaped, poppy-like flowers (to 2” diameter) in red, pink, purple, yellow and white with distinctive purple-black anthers on stems typically growing 12-24” tall. Finely-cut, parsley-like leaves form a foliage mound to 12” tall.
Are Ranunculus cut flowers?
Today, ranunculus are grown as cut flowers mostly, though there are some shorter bedding varieties that are sold at plant nurseries in the Spring. Ranunculus reproduce by tubers and seeds. Ranunculus is a tender perennial flower that grows from fleshy, underground structures called tubers.
How long does a Ranunculus flower?
Ranunculus are typically early-spring blooms, but can flower through early summer, and stay flowering anywhere from four to seven weeks. The various species in this genus require similar care—plenty of sunlight, well-draining soil, and warm weather—to reach maturity. Mature ranunculus can stretch from two inches tall to two feet tall.
Are Ranunculus perennials?
Learn how to grow ranunculus for tall, ruffled blooms that stand out in both garden beds and vases. Ranunculus flowers, also known as buttercups, are hardy, cool-season perennials that are beloved for their delicate, densely layered blooms.
What colors can Ranunculus grow?
Red, yellow, orange, dark purple, fuchsia, pink, white, cream, and pastel shades are just a few of the colors of the many cultivars you can grow today. You may have encountered ranunculus before in your very own wedding bouquet or found a few little plants at a nursery in the early Spring.
How does Ranunculus grow?
Ranunculus is a tender perennial flower that grows from fleshy, underground structures called tubers. Botanically speaking, a tuber is a starchy underground stem or rhizome with buds or “eyes” that produces shoots that become leaves and stems. Sometimes the tubers are mistakenly referred to as corms, which are a modified underground stem.
Can Ranunculus grow in high humidity?
Grow ranunculus in average humidity. High humidity increases the chances of fungal infections. When border-planted ranunculus start to grow, the plants appreciate regular feedings with a balanced fertilizer, following the product instructions, or bone meal. Plants that grow in meadows or along ponds and streams do not need feeding.