Ranunculus asiaticus Romance Courchevel® - Persian buttercup

Ranunculus asiaticus Romance™ Courchevel® is a florist's ranunculus with very double flowers in pure white, the whitest of the Romance™ series, and with a purity rarely seen among large-flowered ranunculus. Its corollas, reminiscent of old-fashioned roses, are borne on long, sturdy stems, perfect for cut flower arrangements. In the garden, its crystal-clear freshness is appreciated in spring scenes and large containers.

It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. The species Ranunculus asiaticus, also known as Asian ranunculus, garden ranunculus or florist's ranunculus, is a tuberous perennial often grown as a seasonal flower in regions with humid and cold climates. Its native range covers the eastern Mediterranean, with populations present in south-eastern insular Europe, the Near East, western Asia and as far as north-eastern Africa. It is a geophytic plant adapted to dry summers and mild winters.

The Romance™ series was bred in Japan by Aya Engei. It is renowned for its very large flowers, long robust stems and good vase life. Courchevel® produces very double, well-formed flowers, whose many petals are arranged in a tight rosette. The flower bud opens slowly, then the flower expands. Its diameter can approach 15 cm under optimal growing conditions; in the garden, they will measure 9 to 12 cm in diameter. The plant develops from fleshy claws, small tuberised organs that serve as storage. It forms an upright clump 50 to 60 cm tall and 20 to 30 cm wide; in a pot, it remains slightly more compact. The medium green leaves are divided into lobes; basal leaves are broader, stem leaves finer. The foliage is deciduous: it turns yellow, then disappears when the plant enters dormancy after flowering. In temperate climates, this occurs from April to June, depending on the planting date and method. Under a Mediterranean climate, or in a cold greenhouse, it will be earlier, between February and March-April. The claws of this ranunculus don't like excess water, especially in winter. By lifting the root clumps in autumn, before frosts, it can be grown like a gladiolus.

In the garden, plant this variety Courchevel® in small groups in a sunny border, a flowerbed, a bed or a designated cutting garden spot. Its pure white colour associates easily with all spring blooms. In a pot, it prefers a deep, well-drained container filled with a light substrate. You can combine it with botanical tulip tarda, Iris pumila ‘Bright White’, Arabis caucasica ‘Plena’ and Aubrieta ‘Cascade Blue’.