Ranunculus asiaticus Poodle Mudassar® - Persian buttercup

Ranunculus asiaticus Poodle Mudassar® is a florist's ranunculus that stands out for its very double, intensely orange flower with narrow, crumpled and fringed petals. It has a more abundant, more ruffled appearance than the usual ranunculus. This variety is especially sought after for cut flowers, but it also adds brilliance to pots and spring borders.

This flower is a descendant of the species Ranunculus asiaticus, a short-lived tuberous perennial plant belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. It is called florist's ranunculus, Oriental ranunculus, garden ranunculus or Asiatic ranunculus. In the wild, it is native from the southern Aegean islands to western and southwestern Iran. It is found in the eastern Mediterranean basin and western Asia, in sunny habitats with mild winters and damp springs, followed by dry summers. It develops from a tuberous claw. Vegetation starts early in the season, then the plant flowers before entering dormancy when the heat sets in. Its rhizome is not hardy; it dies below -4/-5°C.

Poodle Mudassar® belongs to the Poodle ranunculus group, developed by the Japanese breeder Aya Engei. This series brings together ranunculus with unusual flowers, selected for their long stems, good vase life and frizzled appearance. Poodle Mudassar® presents a bright orange colour and a particularly fringed flower. The plant forms an upright clump, compact at the base, 30 to 45 cm tall, composed of very dissected medium green foliage, reminiscent of flat-leaf parsley or a simplified carrot leaf. Its flower stems can reach 40-60 cm in height under good conditions. The very double flowers measure 10 cm across, even up to 15 cm in cut flower production. The dark centre, visible at certain stages of opening, is partly masked by the profusion of petals. Flowering occurs from April to June in the garden, earlier in mild climates or under cover. The foliage is deciduous: it dries after flowering when the plant enters dormancy. By lifting the tubers in autumn, before frosts, you can grow this plant like a gladiolus.

This brilliant florist's ranunculus Poodle Mudassar® finds a place in a small flower bed, in full sun, in light, well-drained soil.