Ranunculus asiaticus Pink-flowered - Persian Buttercup

Intensely romantic, the pink-flowered Persian Buttercup, also known as Ranunculus asiaticus pink-flowered, offers watercolour-like flowering in spring. This small perennial bulb produces a profusion of very round, very full, double flowers in a delightful range of pink shades. With its intense youthfulness in flower beds, it also allows you to create stunning potted displays. Its inviting flowers last 3 weeks in a vase. Not very hardy, it is grown in partial shade or in the sun, in moist, humus-rich soil.

The Persian Buttercup, also known as Garden Buttercup, is a herbaceous perennial plant with tubers originating from the eastern Mediterranean (Greece, Crete), from the buttercup family, just like wild buttercups. The pink-flowered Buttercup, from which it originated, is a variety with spring flowering that is often grown under cover, in floristry, to accelerate the production of its magnificent corollas. In May-June, each bulb produces up to 10 large, very full cups, quite uniform, displaying different shades of pink. Bright pink, pale pink, flesh pink and mauve pink blend on the same plant, or on different individuals. These flowers measure between 3 and 5cm (1 and 2in) in diameter.

Its deciduous foliage develops in a rosette. The basal leaves measure 10 to 15cm (4 to 6in) long. They are pale to dark green, and divided into three deep lobes. At maturity, this Asian buttercup can reach a height of 35cm (14in). It is a hardy plant that can withstand temperatures down to -10°C (14°F). Its root is perennial, consisting of several small elongated tubers, grouped together in a vascular bundle, sometimes called "claw".

The pink-flowered Persian Buttercup can be grown in flower beds, borders, rockeries and even in pots on a terrace. It is a very ornamental plant that is also used in bouquets for its excellent durability. It can be combined in floral arrangements with old roses that resemble them, or even modern roses with perfect forms, in shades ranging from blue-mauve to garnet, passing through all shades of pink. By digging up the tubers in autumn, before the frost, this plant can be grown like a gladiolus.