Planting ranunculus - Ask Extension
Hello,
For USDA zone 7b in the southern Maryland area when is the recommended time frame to plant ranunculus? Is ranunculus
considered as a perennia...
Knowledgebase
Planting ranunculus #864047
Asked April 11, 2024, 12:40 AM EDT
Hello,
For USDA zone 7b in the southern Maryland area when is the recommended time frame to plant ranunculus? Is ranunculus
considered as a perennial plant in zone 7b?
Thank you
Joann
Charles County Maryland
Expert Response
Hello Joann,
Ranunculus are a cool-season flower which can be planted from October through early spring, since they decline in our summer heat. Regarding winter hardiness, they should be protected with "low tunnel" or frost cloth covering when temperatures fall below freezing. We have seen them successfully grown them in zone 7b. The foliage dies down in the summer, and the plants might produce a few repeat blooms the following year, but they are not otherwise reliably a perennial. Commercial growers in our area (like those producing them as cut flowers or for nursery sales) treat Ranunculus as annuals. If you wanted to experiment with keeping the plants going from year to year, you could try digging and storing the bulb-like corms (after the foliage dies down completely on its own) and then replanting them in fall or early spring.
The Missouri Botanical Garden, plus a couple other online references (like Clemson Cooperative Extension), provide additional tips for growing and storing Ranunculus.
Miri
Ranunculus are a cool-season flower which can be planted from October through early spring, since they decline in our summer heat. Regarding winter hardiness, they should be protected with "low tunnel" or frost cloth covering when temperatures fall below freezing. We have seen them successfully grown them in zone 7b. The foliage dies down in the summer, and the plants might produce a few repeat blooms the following year, but they are not otherwise reliably a perennial. Commercial growers in our area (like those producing them as cut flowers or for nursery sales) treat Ranunculus as annuals. If you wanted to experiment with keeping the plants going from year to year, you could try digging and storing the bulb-like corms (after the foliage dies down completely on its own) and then replanting them in fall or early spring.
The Missouri Botanical Garden, plus a couple other online references (like Clemson Cooperative Extension), provide additional tips for growing and storing Ranunculus.
Miri
