bloomloves ranunculus

lthough far more elaborate-looking than the little yellow flower you hold is in fact part of the buttercup () genus. Known as the Persian buttercup, the plant has its own magical story. Legend goes that a Persian prince fell desperately in love with a nymph, but after serenading her day and night, the nymph got bored and turned him into a ranunculus flower. We thank her whenever we spy these princely blooms. Their silky, clustered petals are popular with florists as they make brilliant, longlasting cut flowers, but we prefer seeing their blasts of colour in containers or in a border. Plant in autumn for spring flowers, and avoid soil that stays wet, as it can cause the bulbs to rot. A real show-stopper.