Ranunculus care
Ranunculus carries layered petals on a slender stem — a small, perfect rose with origami precision. Beautiful, slightly delicate, and rewarding to handle with care.
Season
February–May
Vase life
Medium
Sourcing
Direct from growers
Difficulty
Easy
How to care for them
Treat ranunculus as delicate. The stems bruise more easily than rose stems, so handle gently. Re-cut about two centimetres at a sharp angle. Cool clean water in a clean vase — not too deep, the lower stems do not love being submerged.
Refresh the water every two or three days. Remove any spent blooms quickly — ranunculus often arrive as a cluster of stems with several blooms each, opening in sequence. Keep cool and out of direct sun.
Wilting often means the stem is damaged or the water has spoiled. Re-cut higher up the stem (above any soft area), refresh the water, return to a cool spot. Most stems recover within an hour or two.
Common questions
Several days with the right care — cool clean water, regular refreshes, and a cool room. They are a touch more delicate than roses or peonies, but they reward gentle handling. Every order is covered by our Stem freshness promise.
Usually the stem has bruised or the water has spoiled. Re-cut the stem higher up at a sharp angle, refresh the water, and return to a cool spot. The slender ranunculus stem is more prone to damage than thicker stems, so handle with care.
They are cousins — both in the Ranunculaceae family. The garden buttercup is Ranunculus repens; the florist ranunculus is Ranunculus asiaticus. Same family, different look. Florist ranunculus is the showy multi-petalled one.
Mildly toxic to cats, dogs, and horses if eaten. Can cause drooling, vomiting, and mild gastrointestinal upset. Keep out of reach of pets that graze on plants.
Yes — most stems arrive with a mix of open blooms and tight buds. The buds open in sequence over the next several days as the older blooms finish. Remove spent flowers to keep the cluster looking fresh.
Almost none. Ranunculus is a visual flower, not a scented one. If you want fragrance in a bouquet with ranunculus, pair it with sweet pea, freesia, or stock.
Pairs beautifully with
