Ranunculus asiaticus Butterfly Musa® - Persian buttercup

Ranunculus Butterfly™ Musa® is a florist's ranunculus sought after for its abundant flowering and its long, sturdy stems. Its light and satiny flower, in a coral and salmon palette, embodies the spirit of Japanese horticultural creations: less heaviness, more lightness, a shape that appears simple but is actually highly refined. This variety from the Butterfly™ series blooms in spring in borders and large pots. It produces very beautiful stems for cut flower arrangements.

Butterfly™ Musa® belongs to the family of Ranunculaceae. It derives from the wild species Ranunculus asiaticus, Asian ranunculus or florist's ranunculus, a tuberous perennial that does not tolerate severe frosts and wet soils in winter. This species is native to the eastern Mediterranean, from the southern Aegean Sea to western and southwestern Iran. It is found in open landscapes, on stony slopes, in fallows, olive groves, dry lawns, as well as in low formations such as phrygana.

The cultivar Musa® was obtained by the Japanese breeder Aya Engei, who developed the Butterfly™ series, intended for cut flowers. This series is distinguished by long, branched stems, good floribundity, multiple flowers per stem, and excellent vase life. Musa® stands out for its changing colour: the flower buds are salmon-red, then the flowers open into a warm, luminous blend of coral and salmon. In the garden, it reaches 50 to 60 cm in height and 20 to 30 cm in width. This plant grows from a tuberous claw. The deciduous foliage first forms a small basal clump. It is medium green, finely divided, typical of florist's ranunculus. The leafy stems are upright and sturdy, branching towards the top. They bear several buds and then several flowers. In Musa®, the flowers are double to very double, but less dense than those of older florist's ranunculus. The fine and satiny petals catch the light beautifully. Flowering occurs from April to June, depending on planting date and growing conditions.

In the garden, Butterfly™ Musa® deserves a spring setting worthy of its refinement, with patinated hues, whites, and a few darker tones. It can be associated with double tulip ‘La Belle Epoque’, old rose, amber and apricot, parrot tulip ‘Apricot Parrot’, more whimsical and fluid, Ipheion uniflorum ‘Alberto Castillo’ and its small white stars or ornamental garlic ‘Silver Spring’, ivory white with a purple heart that takes over in May-June. In an even more precious scene, introduce Persian fritillary ‘Ivory Bells’, for its ivory bells and stately habit.
By lifting the tubers in autumn, before frost, this plant can be grown like a gladiolus.