Ranunculus asiaticus Romance Digne® - Persian buttercup

Ranunculus asiaticus Romance™ Digne® is a florist's ranunculus with opulent flowering, in shades of golden yellow and warm orange. Its large very double flowers bloom on long robust stems, well suited for spring cut flower arrangements. In the garden, this variety brings light, density and a beautiful sparkle to borders and flowerbeds.

This plant belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. The wild species Ranunculus asiaticus, called Asian ranunculus, florist's ranunculus or garden ranunculus, is a tuberous perennial with low hardiness. In our climate, it is often grown as a seasonal plant because it does not tolerate wet and cold winters. Its native range extends from the southern Aegean islands to western and southwestern Iran. In the wild, it grows in sunny environments, usually grassy or rocky, on well-drained soils, in climates with dry summers.

The Romance™ series was created by Japanese breeder Aya Engei. It is distinguished by very large flowers, long, firm stems, and good vase life; qualities sought after in floristry. Digne® offers a palette of warm colours, blending golden yellow and orange, more intense than that of many classic ranunculus. The plant forms an erect, dense clump. It grows from fleshy underground claws, or more precisely, small elongated tubers. In open ground, it forms an erect clump of 50 to 60-70 cm in flower, with a spread of 20 to 30 cm; in a pot, it will be slightly shorter. The medium to bright green leaves are deeply cut, wider at the base, and more divided on the stems. The foliage is deciduous: it dries and then disappears after flowering, when the plant enters dormancy. The double flowers can reach 9 to 15 cm in diameter under good conditions. They are composed of a multitude of fine petals, tightly packed, arranged in a rosette. Flowering occurs mainly from April to June, depending on planting date. Under glass, the plant can flower from January-February. The hardiness of this variety is around -5 °C in very well-drained soil.

In the garden, plant this brightly coloured flower in small groups in a sunny border, a spring flowerbed or a cutting garden square. It associates well with cooler tones or with other vivid shades. In a pot, place it near a passage or on the terrace to enjoy its flowers. You can associate it with parrot tulip 'Amazing Parrot', double daffodil 'Tahiti', forget-me-not 'Blue Sylva' and Iberis sempervirens 'Masterpiece'.

For a bit of history, the Asian ranunculus entered European gardens as early as the Renaissance; the fineness of its petals and the richness of its colours quickly made it a highly sought-after flower.