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Introducing...

Border buttercups

Botanical name: Ranunculus

These easy-to-grow, undemanding plants are widely grown in borders alongside other cottage-garden favourites such as pulmonarias and campanulas and in informal meadow plantings. These include Ficaria verna, formally called Ranunculus ficaria.

Looks

Glistening yellow or white flowers open above mats of bright green leaves in spring and summer. Most have wide-petalled cup-shaped blooms, although some are daisy-like with narrow petals, while others have double flowers that look like mini-dahlias. Plants usually disappear below ground in winter.

Likes

Buttercups prefer slightly damp soil that doesn’t dry out, in sun or light shade. Ranunculus gramineus grows well in either the border or rock garden.

Dislikes

They don’t do well in very dry soils. Most won’t flower successfully in deep shade, apart from the more vigorous types.

Did you know?

The name Ranunculus means ‘little frog’ – an allusion to the damp habitats that are often the natural home of these plants in the wild.

Growing guide

Ranunculus we recommend

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Useful advice

Creating wildflower meadows

Creating wildflower meadows

Perennial borders: choosing plants

Perennial borders: choosing plants

Shade planting: annuals, bulbs and perennials

Shade planting: annuals, bulbs and perennials

Wildflower meadow maintenance

Wildflower meadow maintenance

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