Ranunculus asiaticus Butterfly Ninos® - Persian buttercup

Ranunculus Butterfly™ Ninos® is a florist's ranunculus of great purity, prized for its semi-double white-cream flowers on long stems. This variety from the Butterfly™ series stands out as it has lighter flowers compared to the very double ranunculus. Fresh, graceful and particularly refined, it brightens spring borders, large pots, and cut flower arrangements.

From the Ranunculaceae family, Butterfly™ Ninos® derives from the botanical species Ranunculus asiaticus, known as florist's ranunculus or Asian ranunculus. It is a tuberous perennial, often grown as a seasonal plant due to its low hardiness. It is native to the eastern Mediterranean, widespread from the southern Aegean Sea to western and southwestern Iran. In its native range, it can be found in open landscapes, often dry in summer, on stony ground, in fallow fields, olive groves, hillsides and low phrygana formations.

The cultivar Ninos® was bred by the Japanese breeder Aya Engei, creator of theButterfly™ series, developed to produce long, well-branched stems, naturally floriferous, with several flowers per stem and excellent vase life. Ninos® also differs from classic ranunculus with its semi-double or slightly double flowers, less dense, more mobile, revealing the flower's centre. The plant grows quickly, reaching 50 to 60 cm in height in the ground, with a spread of 20 to 30 cm. In a pot, it remains more compact. Its deciduous foliage disappears after flowering. It first forms a small clump at the base, then clothes the stems. The medium green leaves are divided into rounded or narrower lobes, depending on their position on the plant. The upright and sturdy stems branch in their upper part and bear several flower buds. In Ninos®, the 4-5 cm diameter flowers open into cups in shades of ivory white to very pale cream, washed with a fresh butter sheen or a barely pinkish hue at the centre. The petals are fine and satiny, almost translucent against the light. This flowering occurs from April to June, depending on planting date. Asian ranunculus are tender: their rhizomes can withstand brief frosts of around -6°C, but only in dry soil. By lifting the tubers in autumn, before frosts, you can grow this plant like a gladiolus.

In the garden, this Butterfly™ Ninos® selection will find a place in spring borders, edges, pots and the cut flower patch. Its cream-white colour matches very easily with purple, pink and white tones. It goes well with double late tulip 'Angélique', soft pink, narcissus 'Obdam', very double and voluminous, as well as with the tulips ‘Paul Scherer’, of a very dark purple, and 'Hollande Chic', white striped with pink. Plant this ranunculus in fertile, light and well-drained soil, remaining slightly moist throughout the growing and flowering period.