Are Ranunculus Perennials? (Yes, here’s how)

Ranunculus is one of the most popular cut flowers for spring and summer bouquets.

They are some of the first flowers to bloom in spring, and their different varieties increase throughout summer.

This creates a constantly-expanding parade of color on flower stems. 

These showy blooms can be found in many different colors, ranging from pale yellow to deep purple.

Ranunculus may be perennial plants in warmer climates; however, they usually die off with the onset of cold weather.

So, are Ranunculus Perennials? Yes, Ranunculus cool season are Perennials. Although it is not the most widely planted ornamental flower in home gardens, the Ranunculus family of plants is incredibly beautiful and many gardeners consider them to be perennials.

Variations in color abound among varieties of this wildflower family. Many gardeners include at least one Ranunculus plant in their perennial borders or rock gardens.

Some types are taller than others, but they all do tend to grow quickly and bloom for a long time when given proper care. 

They can withstand light frost during colder months but also return quickly from their roots when the warmer portions of the year begin again.

The only way to truly know if your specific type of Ranunculus plant will be a perennial is to read the description of the particular variety you are considering.

Some types of Ranunculus, such as the variety called Persian Buttercups, typically live for two or three years. These types are not perennials by definition because they do not grow back every year without intervention. 

Other varieties, especially those that come from warmer regions, can continue to sprout up during each growing season and become perennials. It all depends on where your Ranunculus plants come from and how well their location matches their preferences.

As far as care goes, these flowers require moist soil but still plenty of sunshine in order to thrive. If you find that your soil tends to dry out quickly, consider mulching around your plants or planting them in an area that receives plenty of shade throughout the day. 

We all know that too much sun can also be harmful to many different types of plants, so work with your climate to come up with a solution that will best suit your Ranunculus.

Are Ranunculus ‘true’ Perennials?

Whether they do or not depends on the treatment the plant receives from its gardener.

If it is looked after well, then every year new little leaves will sprout from the crown of the plant with fresh flowers growing out of them as well. 

If it is neglected or goes through a difficult season, then all that may happen is that it might send up a few flowers to reproduce via seed, but there won’t be any actual flowers. 

The Senescence Nature of Ranunculus

After having finished blooming, Ranunculus goes into what is called senescence.

Basically, their life cycle begins to wind down and their parts start to die off. This stage can last 1-3 months depending on the weather conditions.

Then, in autumn, they will enter a new stage which is called vernalization, only certain things are able to get through this stage of development successfully. The plant either prepares for dormancy or goes into the next stages which lead to flower production.

Eventually, in spring it will go into another growth stage and start to produce leaves and flowers again. If conditions in the meantime have been favorable then that’s that and you’ll see the same happy results as before in terms of flowers. 

However, if something has gone wrong along the way (such as lack of water availability) then it might produce some seeds but not much else.  

That is why when preparing your garden bed in the fall you must ensure that it is well watered and that the soil has been fertilized. Ensure the weather is favorable as well, a few days of frost won’t hurt but too much severe cold can be detrimental.

Is Ranunculus A Permanent Plant?

Did you know ranunculus flowers are not permanent? The small, yet beautiful, flower is very short-lived. It only opens for one day and completely dies the next. Because of this, they make great cut flowers.

Ranunculus flowers grow from bulbs with long roots called ‘corms’. These corms form when the bulb divides underground. The new bulbs overwinter in the soil until spring when they sprout leaves and produce one or more flower stalks. 

These stalks carry an array of bright to deep red tubular blossoms that last just a few days each. Once pollination has occurred, the blossoms wither away within a matter of hours to reveal greenish blackberries containing shiny black seeds that are attractive to birds.

The seeds are produced within the first year, but it takes an additional two years for them to sprout. After one or more years in the soil, each corm produces a new set of leaves and flowers. 

The overcrowding of flowering stalks can lead to smaller blooms and fewer berries the following season so it’s important to thin out these young plants as they grow. A healthy plant will produce between ten and twenty flowers per stalk.

Ranunculus bulbs should be planted about five inches deep with six inches between each bulb. They require full sun and well-draining soil that is consistently moist but not waterlogged. 

These beautiful flowers thrive during cool weather and growers cut back on watering once the first frost hits. Be sure to cut the flowers before they wilt and dry, or their lifespan will be even shorter.

Can Ranunculus Survive Winter?

No – any parts of the plant that remain in the ground over winter will die. This includes the corms (bulb-like structures), roots, and leaves that grew above-ground from those corms during the growing season.

Can You Dig Ranunculus Bulbs in the Fall?

Yes, if you live in a climate where frost comes to your garden in the fall, you can dig up some of the ranunculus bulbs before it gets too cold outside and store them until you need them next spring.

When digging up tubers or corms, make sure not to damage them since they must remain healthy for the plants to grow again.

Successfully saving your ranunculus depends on what type of corms they are, how much space you have available for storage, and whether or not you plan to plant new ones next year. 

If you just want more flowers immediately without worrying about planting larger beds or making room for storage, you can simply buy more ranunculus at a local nursery or home improvement store.

Can Ranunculus Be Transplanted in the Fall?

No, If you’re planning to move your ranunculus bulb/corms before winter sets in, leave them alone until spring. 

Even if you keep them indoors and give them bright light and warmth like summer weather conditions, they won’t grow (unless you bring them into an artificially-heated environment that simulates spring).

Before planting any type of bulb in the fall, make sure it’s completely dry. Store it well by placing bulbs inside paper bags and storing those inside plastic bins or tiered wire racks.

Keep the containers out of direct sunlight (but don’t store them in total darkness either).

Ranunculus bulbs require a very specific growing environment to survive. If you live where it gets cold over the winter, then your best bet for success is to plant new bulbs or tubers each spring and hope for the best.

If not, learn more about how to keep ranunculus alive.

Can Ranunculus Be Kept Inside Over Winter?

Yes, To keep ranunculus indoors before winter sets in, check bulb foliage regularly for rot or pests (remove diseased plants) and water as needed. Keep containers away from direct sunlight and heat vents since temperatures below 50°F will damage bulb growth. 

If you can maintain a stable temperature between 45°-55°F, water sparingly (once every two weeks) and remove any dead foliage as needed. 

If you choose to treat your ranunculus like an orchid (removing all leaves but the pseudobulbs), make sure they get at least eight hours of indirect sunlight each day.

Before bringing containerized plants inside for winter, check them over for signs of pests or disease. Remove any diseased parts since these problems can persist through winter if left untreated. 

You can then trim back all foliage to 1-3″ above the corms, leaving only the youngest shoots on top untouched. You should also cut off any remaining stalks that have already gone to seed so that energy goes into bulb growth instead of flowering again.

Can you leave ranunculus in the ground?

Can Ranunculus Be Left In The Ground? No. If you’re worried about coming up with a plan for what to do with your flowers before they die, learn more about the different types of bulbs and tubers so you’ll have a better idea of which ones can be stored or left in the ground, and which must be dug before frost arrives.

Conclusion

After looking through the information and materials we gathered, we found evidence to support our hypothesis. Ranunculus species are perennials. 

We looked at a lot of research-based on ranunculus plants and their growth habits, such as how the plant grows in warmer climates versus colder ones. 

There were also different types of studies that provided information about global distributions of ranunculus plants and which areas they grow best in, or where they can develop into large populations.