How to Grow Anemones & Ranunculus

Anemones and ranunculus are some of the most popular flowers we grow! They bloom roughly from March through May and provide a spectacular start to spring.

These flowers take years of trial and error to grow well, although even less-than-professional results are lovely.

Anemones and ranunculus grow from corms. Many people refer to them as bulbs as shorthand for the dense underground storage organs.

Start with Your Spot

While you're waiting for your corms to arrive, scope out your spot. Place your corns 6-9 inches apart, either in a row or in a grid.

Choose an established garden bed with amended, well-draining soil and at least 6 hours of sun per day. If standing water pools up near this spot, choose a different one. Good drainage is imperative for growing anemones and ranunculus.

Soil should be loose and amended with an all-purpose fertilizer and aged compost.

Decide When to Plant

At Carolina Flowers, we grow ranunculus and anemones in zone 7, so conditions are relatively mild for most of the winter. We plant our first anemone in October for blooms in March. We plant our first ranunculus in early November.

We plant multiple successions of anemones from October to December. We plant multiple successions of ranunculus from November to February.

Anemones and ranunculus like cool soil — no hotter than 60 degrees. If you plant too late and the soil gets hot while they're growing, they won't bloom. A soil thermometer is a good investment.

If you don't want to plant in fall — because you'll  have to protect your anemones and ranunculus during cold snaps — save your corms in a cool, dark place until you're ready. A drawer or closet is great.

Prepare Your Corms

Soak your corms in water for about six to eight hours to hydrate them. Professionals might want to use an aquarium bubbler that can oxygenate the water.

After soaking, we use special drenches to help prevent rot later on. Again, this step is good for professionals but not required for home gardeners.

Once your corms are hydrated, it's time to plant! (Professionals will want to presprout, but again, not required at home.)

Planting

Once you've prepared your corms, you're ready to plant! Bury them in your chosen spot about an inch below the surface of the soil. You should have at least an inch of soil on top of the corm to protect it. Your hole is probably going to be 2 or 3 inches deep to accomplish this depth, depending on the size of the corm.

Lightly press the top of the soil to keep it from blowing off.

While They're Growing

When the daytime temperatures are about 50 degrees, anemones and ranunculus appreciate a drink a couple of times a week! Water now and then when the soil dries out.

Anemones are very hardy, and they can tolerate temperatures in the high 20s with no issue. Ranunculus are more delicate, but a light freeze won't distress them.

Once temperatures drop into the mid-to-low 20s, you want to think about protection. Protect your plants with an overturned bucket, a sheet or frost fabric. Just make sure nothing touches the leaves, and remove your covering once the sun comes out.

Troubleshooting

If you see black or brown growth on the leaves, you can pick them off. White mold is also a really bad sign. Preventing your anemones and ranunculus from sitting in wet soil is going to be the best way to prevent disease.

Your plants are likely to get a little spotty at some point, particularly if you live in a humid place like we do. Increase air flow by preventing weeds and decrease water.

Blooming & Harvesting

Anemones and ranunculus bloom spectacularly. It's great to leave them in your garden to enjoy. They last a long time on the plants.

If you want to harvest the blooms, wait until the anemones have opened and closed one time, and then cut them at the base.

For ranunculus, allow the petals to soften and fluff out just a little bit, like a marshmallow. You don't want to cut them when they're super tight; however, don't wait until the petals begin to unfold fully. 

If you're not sure about the right stage of harvest, try some different options and monitor the results. See what works best for you!

When It's Over

We grow anemones and ranunculus as annuals. We remove the spent corms each year. You can leave them in the ground and see what happens if you like! Whether they return will depend on your drainage. You can also dig up your corms after the leaves die back and store in a cool, dark cupboard for next year!