The Top 8 Ranunculus Varieties for Gorgeous Cut Flowers

As a flower farmer and florist, I am always on the lookout for unique blooms to add texture, movement, and pops of color to my floral designs. One of my absolute favorites is the whimsical, ruffled ranunculus. Often described as the “rose of spring”, ranunculus produce lush, sweetly scented flowers in breathtaking colors during the cooler months of the year.

While ranunculus come in a stunning range of varieties, some perform better than others as cut flowers Through trial and error on my small urban flower farm, I’ve learned that certain ranunculus have longer vase life, hold up better to transport, and add the most distinctive beauty to arrangements.

If you want to grow and cut armloads of exquisite ranunculus for bouquets, wreaths and centerpieces here are my top 8 varieties to try.

1. La Belle Series

The La Belle series from Gloeckner is hands-down my favorite for cut flower ranunculus production. After extensive testing against other common types like the Amandines I’ve found the La Belle blooms last noticeably longer in the vase and have the fullest most luxurious form with ruffled petals neatly arranged in a rose shape.

Some standout La Belle varieties I recommend include:

• La Belle Gold: Buttery yellow blooms that make spring bouquets pop. The color is vibrant without being too lemon or mustard.

• La Belle Champagne: Lovely bicolored blooms in peachy-pink and apricot shades. The subtle color variations add depth and interest.

• La Belle Dark Orange: A true, rich orange that provides a perfect pop of color.

• La Belle White: Large, clean white blooms that last and last in arrangements.

2. Amandine Mixes

Though they don’t have the same incredible vase life as the La Belles, the Amandine series offers fun options like mixes and picotees. Some of my favorites include:

• Amandine Pastel Mix: A blend of soft picotees in lilac, yellow, white, and light pink.

• Amandine Marshmallow: The closest I’ve found to a true blush pink ranunculus. Soft, blowing blooms.

3. Italian Ranunculus Varieties

If you need ranunculus that can withstand cold snaps and keep blooming through heat waves, go for Italian varieties like Tecolote or Santini. In my experience, they tolerate temperature swings much better than other types. The prolific harvests and long vase life make them well worth the higher cost per corm.

4. Butterfly Ranunculus

Butterfly ranunculus produce ethereal, slender-petaled blooms on long, delicate stems. Though they require more pampering than other types, their graceful elegance is unmatched. Top varieties include:

• Butterfly Pink: Soft, ballet slipper pink flowers

• Butterfly White: Crisp and pristine blooms

• Butterfly Picotee: Blooms elegantly kissed with white along the ruffled edges

5. Purple Picotee

Add a pop of springtime color with the vibrant purple and white blooms of Purple Picotee ranunculus. The bi-colored flowers have bright purple centers that fade to clean white edges. Gorgeous in bouquets!

6. Amandine Barby

I adore the two-toned, blush-edged blooms of the Amandine Barby variety. Each ruffled petal features a bold magenta center that fades to a pale pink rim. Stunning in hand-tied or low, dense arrangements.

7. Ginette

One of the most popular ranunculus varieties, Ginette features fully double, blush pink blooms reminiscent of classic cabbage roses. Add these beauties to spring bridal work for a touch of romance.

8. Amandine Tiger

For truly unique ranunculus, go for the Amandine Tiger mix. The bold, striped flowers in shades of red, white, purple, and yellow are eye-catching additions to garden-style arrangements.

Growing Ranunculus for Cut Flowers

To maximize your ranunculus stem harvest for cutting, keep these tips in mind:

• Plant corms in early spring as soon as soil can be worked. Ranunculus want to grow ASAP once temperatures warm.

• Give them full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Raised beds enriched with compost are ideal.

• Space plants 4-6 inches apart to allow air circulation and light penetration.

• Water regularly, especially once buds appear. Drought causes misshapen blooms.

• Cut stems in the morning when upright and hydrated.

• Immediately place in water and refrigerate. Properly cared for, ranunculus last 7-10+ days in the vase.

Designing Gorgeous Arrangements with Ranunculus

The ruffled texture and springlike colors of ranunculus allow for eye-catching bouquets and centerpieces. Design ideas include:

• Pairing ranunculus with sweet peas, larkspur, lilacs and other blooms of late spring. The textures complement each other beautifully.

• Creating monochromatic pink, purple, or white ranunculus bouquets for soft, romantic appeal.

• Mixing ranunculus varieties and colors in a hand-tied bouquet for a whimsical, abundant feel.

• Floating ranunculus stems in a glass bowl or low cylinder vase for easy, elegant arrangements.

• Weaving ranunculus into floral crowns and garlands along with soft foliage.

With their rose-like beauty and sweet fragrance, ranunculus are one of my favorite flowers to grow, cut, and design with. I hope these tips help you get acquainted with the best ranunculus varieties for cutting and arranging into jaw-dropping springtime bouquets and centerpieces.