15 Types of Ranunculus to Plant this Fall

If you want beautiful spring flowers, consider planting ranunculus corms this fall. Flower grower Briana Yablonski will share more than a dozen ranunculus varieties that will provide you with layers upon layers of delicate petals.

Written by Briana Yablonski Horticulture review by Sarah Jay Last updated: October 25, 2024 | 10 min read

A cluster of vibrant orange, yellow, red, and white flowers bloom with layered petals, surrounded by thick green foliage and soil beneath.

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If you’re looking for a new flower that you can plant in the fall and enjoy in the spring, ranunculus is my top choice. These members of the Buttercup family produce layers upon layers of delicate petals and come in just about every color imaginable. They also bloom for one to two months, so you can cut some for the vase and still enjoy a colorful garden.

All types of ranunculus start their lives as storage organs called corms. These corms look like little octopi and arrive at your home dry. After they receive the right temperature and moisture level, they begin sending out roots and foliage. Planting the corms in the fall and covering the small plants through the winter allows you to enjoy an early spring bloom.

You can also tuck the corms into the ground in late winter or early spring as long as you protect them from cold. Although these plants love cool weather, they’re not frost-tolerant. Along with protecting them from frost, you could make sure the plants have enough cool months to mature. Ranunculus are cool-season plants, so they struggle in the summer heat.

Different Types of Ranunculus

An array of bright pink, orange, and yellow blooms stands tall in a garden bed, their delicate petals radiating against a backdrop of thick, dark green leaves. — Each series has similar growth habits, bloom types, and preferred environments.

When you’re looking at types of ranunculus to grow, you’ll quickly see there are hundreds of different ones to choose from. Looking at all your options can be overwhelming until you realize there are a few different series with multiple colors in each series. Each series has similar growth habits, flower types, and preferred environments.

If you find that one series grows well for you, you can plant multiple colors. Or, if you’re in love with a particular color, you can grow multiple red or white blooms from different series.

Before we dive into the specific varieties you can plant, I’ll cover some basic information about some of the most popular ranunculus series.

Amandine

White blooms with densely packed petals grow in a garden bed, their cream-like texture surrounded by lush green leaves and a layer of mulch. — The blooms have a classic ranunculus shape with swirled layers of thin petals.

Amandine ranunculus is a more recent series out of Europe. The plants have great vigor and produce large blooms on strong stems. The blooms have a classic ranunculus shape with swirled layers of thin petals.

They begin blooming later in the year than other types of ranunculus, but their improved heat tolerance allows them to keep flowering into the late spring and early summer.

La Belle

A bouquet of peach-colored flowers with hints of orange forms a dense, tightly packed cluster, set against a backdrop of rich green foliage. — They have many layers of petals, but they’re a bit smaller than those in other ranunculus series.

La Belle is an older ranunculus variety that produces lots of blossoms over multiple weeks. The plants begin to bloom early in the season, but they don’t tolerate the heat as well as other varieties. They have many layers of petals, but they’re a bit smaller than those in other ranunculus series. The stems are also on the shooter side, so they’re not the best option for large arrangements.

Super Green

A close-up of pale green, round petals arranged in layers, growing amidst darker green leaves in a neatly maintained garden bed. — They have ruffly, green centers that resemble heads of escarole or leaves of parsley.

Chances are you’ll either love or hate Super Green ranunculus. Although they have the same thin layers of petals as many other ranunculi, they have ruffly, green centers that resemble heads of escarole or leaves of parsley. They bloom early in the season, around the same time as La Belle ranunculus.

Elegance®

Light pink flowers with delicately curled petals bloom in clusters, their soft hues contrasting with the deep green leaves surrounding them. — They produce lots of large blossoms made of many petals.

These blossoms are also sometimes referred to as Italian ranunculus since they were originally bred in Italy. The plants have tall stems that can reach two feet. They produce lots of large flowers made of many petals.

Romance™

A close-up of soft pink flowers with layered petals, each bloom showcasing a gradient from light pink to a deeper blush, surrounded by deep green leaves. — The plants produce long stems topped with large, double-petal blooms.

The Romance™ series was created by plant breeders at the Japanese company AYA Engei and is protected by plant breeder rights. Unlike most ranunculus, the plants have solid stems, which makes them more resistant to disease. They also produce less foliage than other varieties, leading to better airflow and a decrease in fungal diseases like powdery mildew.

The plants produce long stems topped with large, double-petal blooms. When they’re fully open, they resemble fluffy marshmallows!

Butterfly™

A charming mix of light pink and cream-colored flowers bloom in a garden, their soft petals framed by healthy green foliage. — The colorful petals nestle once on top of one another and are coated in a shimmery, waxy material.

When you look at the thin, delicate petals of the Butterfly™ series of ranunculus, it’s easy to see where this series got its name. The colorful petals nestle once on top of one another and are coated in a shimmery, waxy material that makes them resemble glittery butterfly wings.

Each corm produces multiple branching stems that contain five to ten blooms. The stems can grow close to two feet when they’re healthy, which is taller than many other ranunculus varieties. When you combine their long stems with multiple flowers, it makes sense that they are many florists’ dream.

The Butterfly™ series was bred by the Japanese company AYA Engei and is protected by plant breeder’s rights. That means you cannot save the corms from one season to the next.

Tecolote®

Golden orange and red flowers sway gently in the sunlight, surrounded by slender green stems and vibrant, dark leaves. — They have a mix of single and double blooms, but the majority are double blooms.

The Tecolote® series came to being at the Carlsbad Flower Fields in Carlsbad, CA. In the early 20th century, members of the Gage and Frazee families began growing ranunculus on the land. Over the years, they selected beautiful colors and healthy blossoms, resulting in the Tecoloate® series.

These flowers have a mix of single and double blooms, but the majority are double blooms. Single blooms resemble poppies, while double blooms have layers of petals that make them look more like roses. The plants grow 18-24 inches tall.

‘Butterfly™ Ariadne®’

Soft white and light pink flowers, resembling delicate butterflies, bloom in clusters, with a background of deep green stems and leaves. — The outer petals are a pleasing blush, and the inner petals are pale pink.

The shimmery pink petals of Ariadne® make them look like they belong in a storybook princess castle. Not only do the petals glimmer, but they feature multiple colors. The outer petals are a pleasing blush, and the inner petals are pale pink.

Like all members of the Butterfly™ series, the stems contain multiple blooms. Aim to harvest when a single flower is open and two more blooms are showing color. The closed buds will continue to open after they’re cut, so you can expect a vase life of at least a week.

‘Butterfly™ Keramos®’

A striking white flower with crisp, silky petals and a bold yellow center stands out against a bed of green foliage and other white blooms. — They aren’t true cream, but they have a warmer hue than many other white blossoms.

Since it’s a Butterfly™ variety, this plant produces tall, branching stems topped with multiple blooms. The petals are less tightly packed than other ranunculus varieties, but they’re no less beautiful! You can think of them as resembling delicate wild roses rather than swirled tea roses.

The Keramos® variety has warm, white flowers. The petals aren’t true cream, but they have a warmer hue than many other white types. Therefore, they mix well with peachy, pink, and red hues.

‘Tecolote® Salmon’

A salmon-colored bloom with tightly spiraled petals sits against a smooth gray background, its soft hue complemented by a subtle green center. — The color ranges from light peach to deep coral.

If it’s your first time growing ranunculus, Tecolote® Salmon is a great choice. The corms are some of the least expensive options available, so you don’t have to worry about wasting too much money if you don’t get everything right. However, if you tuck the corms in the ground in the fall and protect them over the winter, they’ll likely result in beautiful salmon-colored flowers the following spring.

The color ranges from light peach to deep coral. Sometimes, the blooms also develop a yellow color that pairs nicely with the salmon hues.

‘Amandine Gold’

Clusters of small, golden-yellow flowers rise from a bed of green leaves, creating a bright contrast against the thick foliage around them. — These blooms pop up from the ground and cover your gardens with beautiful bright gold.

Although all ranunculus are beautiful, ‘Amandine Gold’ are some of the most cheerful. These blooms pop up from the ground and cover your gardens with beautiful bright gold.

They bloom later in the season than some ranunculus varieties, but they continue to bloom longer into the year. As long as the weather doesn’t get too hot, you can harvest the flowers into the late spring or early summer.

‘Super Green Gold’

A large yellow flower with layered petals blooms vividly in a garden bed, surrounded by thick, dark green leaves and smaller buds. — They feature bright yellow petals surrounding a ruffled green center.

If you want a bright ranunculus that stands out from the crowd, this is it. They feature bright yellow petals surrounding a ruffled green center. Although you may think something is wrong with the flowers at first glance, they’re supposed to look a little wild.

All members of the ‘Super Green’ series bloom early in the season. Therefore, you can expect them to be some of the first ranunculus you cut. Remember to cut the stems when the buds are full but not open—the flowers will continue to open and reveal their bright green centers.

‘Elegance® Dolce Striato’

Green and white blooms with pink accents near the edges grow amidst healthy green leaves, each petal forming a delicate spiral. — Although the petals all have different base colors, each one is edged in deep purple.

These flowers pop up in a mixture of colors, including white, light pink, and lavender. Although the petals all have different base colors, each one is edged in deep purple. When you combine a handful of the blooms together in a bouquet, they’re stunning!

Like other members of the Elegance® family, these plants produce tall stems and large blooms. They produce lots of flowers over the course of four to eight weeks.

‘Amandine Chamallow’

Blush pink and creamy white blooms with densely layered petals create a soft, romantic scene, framed by dark green leaves. — ‘Chamallow’ features light pinks and peaches.

An elegant and soft flower, ‘Chamallow’ features light pinks and peaches. The light green center of the flower comes into display when the layers of petals are fully open. Since this variety can handle more heat than others, it’s a great way to extend soft pink ranunculus into the warmer months.

If the weather conditions remain good and the plants stay disease-free, you can expect to harvest blooms for four to seven weeks. For the best vase life, harvest the blooms when they’re swollen but not fully open.

‘Amandine Porcelain’

A cluster of porcelain-pink flowers with softly curved petals forms a dense bouquet, surrounded by rich green foliage and basking in soft light. — The mix of light and dark pinks coupled with the fine white edging makes this a pleasing addition to most gardens and bouquets.

When you look at the top of these flowers, they may appear like any other pink ranunculus. But when you turn the blooms over, you’ll discover the edges of the petals ringed in a thin layer of white. The mix of light and dark pinks coupled with the fine white edging makes this a pleasing addition to most gardens and bouquets.

If you plant these corms in the fall, make sure to protect any tender shoots over the winter. A layer or two of row cover will protect the plants from frost and drying winds. When spring arrives, remember that Amandine plants will begin blooming later than other ranunculus series.

‘Butterfly™ Minoan®’

Vibrant orange and yellow blooms stand out vividly against a dense bed of green leaves, their layered petals creating a fiery burst of color. — Deep golden orange and fire red flowers appear in a branching form atop long stems.

In a sea of pastel pinks and light oranges, Minoan® stands out. Deep golden orange and fire red flowers appear in a branching form atop long stems. The blooms are coated with a glimmery wax that makes them shimmer in the sun.

Remember to harvest these Butterfly™ ranunculus when a stem contains one fully open flower. The rest of the stem’s buds will continue to open after they’re cut, leading to a vase life of between one and two weeks.

‘Romance™ Hydra’

White blooms with green-tinted petals grow against a rich green backdrop, their smooth petals tightly packed in concentric layers. — Hydra has a base that’s a mix of peachy creams and light yellows.

If you want large blooms, the Romance™ series should be at the top of your list. These plants produce impressively large blooms atop long, solid, strong stems. And the colors are beautiful!

Hydra has a base that’s a mix of peachy creams and light yellows. While these colors are beautiful in their own way, the flowers are covered with specks of deeper peachy pink. Since all the colors are so similar, the blooms still look classy and romantic rather than wild.

‘La Belle Chocolate’

Bright red flowers with densely packed, ruffled petals grow against a rich bed of green foliage, adding a vibrant pop of color to the scene. — The deep red hue and ruffled petals make them look like the red roses that often accompany Valentine’s Day chocolates.

While these aren’t the color of chocolate, the deep red hue and ruffled petals make them look like the red roses that often accompany Valentine’s Day chocolates. Although these flowers tend to bloom after Valentine’s Day, you can harvest them for multiple weeks in the early to middle of spring.

Since ‘La Belle’ ranunculus are some of the first to bloom in the spring, they often mark the start of the ranunculus season. If you want to try to get these blooms to flower in February, you can try growing them in a greenhouse, cold frame, or other warm, protected structure.

‘Novelty Poodle Ramila®’

A vivid deep pink bloom with curled petals grows in a lush garden, surrounded by dark green leaves and soil, creating a striking contrast. — The hot pink petals have a ruffled texture that makes them resemble the coat of a poodle puppy.

These plants have a growth habit similar to plants in the Romance series, but ‘Poodle Ramila®’ looks nothing like the other varieties. The hot pink petals have a ruffled texture that makes them resemble the coat of a poodle puppy.

The flowers are smaller than others in the Romance series, but their unique appearance makes up for the size. You can expect to harvest these flowers for multiple weeks. Since they’re protected by breeder rights, you cannot save the corms.

‘Tecolote® Cafe’

Bright orange and red flowers with delicately curled petals bloom against a vibrant field of ranunculus, their fiery hues glowing in full sunlight. — They feature deep gold, orange, and red hues in a single bloom.

If you want to bring fall colors to spring, this is the ranunculus for you. The ‘Cafe’ flowers feature deep gold, orange, and red hues in a single bloom. Each petal has a lightly streaked appearance that makes it look like it was painted with a small brush. While each flower contains similar colors, they are all unique.

The stems grow 18-24 inches tall and feature medium-sized flowers. As long as the plants remain healthy, you can expect to cut stems for about a month.

‘Romance™ Odon’

A striking bright red bloom with a densely layered center and contrasting green core, surrounded by a few smaller buds and dark green leaves. — This variety has deep red blooms with green centers.

Like all Romance™ ranunculus, ‘Odon’ has large flowers on tall, sturdy stems. This variety has deep red blooms with green centers. All of the petals are lightly ruffled, setting Odon apart from other types of ranunculus.

Since this variety has solid stems and little foliage, it’s more disease-resistant than many other ranunculus varieties. Therefore, it’s a great choice if you deal with issues like botrytis and fusarium wilt.

‘La Belle White Picotee’

Large white petals with soft pink veins and a hint of green at the base, growing in a lush garden bed surrounded by rich green leaves. — The flowers of ‘White Picotee’ have white petals with pink edges.

‘White Picotee’ flowers have white petals with pink edges. When you look at the many layers of petals together, the flowers are stunning! However, the plants typically only grow 10-15 inches tall.

Remember that members of the La Belle series are some of the first to bloom each year. That means you can expect flowers in March or April, depending on where you live and where you planted the corms. If you want flowers as early as possible, try planting the corms in a high tunnel or cold frame.

15 Types of Ranunculus to Plant this Fall