Ranunculus, the sweet cotton candy queen of spring flowers

 Among the representative flowers that announce spring, the best one is of course the ranunculus. Ranunculus is a lovely spring flower with layers of thin double petals that are reminiscent of sweet cotton candy. Today, I will tell you about the charms of this ranunculus.

 

Beautiful pink ranunculus ( Image by Petra from Pixabay)

 

What about ranunculus?

 

 Also called Persian water parsley (Ranunculus asiaticus), this flower is native to the eastern Mediterranean, southwestern Asia, southeastern Europe, and northeastern Africa. Its place of origin is the land of the old Persian Empire, also called Asia Minor. The flowers are also large in size, ranging from 2 to 3 centimeters in diameter to 5 to 6 centimeters in diameter, and come in a wide variety of colors, including white, red, yellow, orange, green and purple. It starts from a very small flower cluster, and once it blooms, it can bloom in a round shape, like a large cotton candy, or it can bloom like a gently curved dish bowl.

 The leaves stick out like mugwort, and the stems are covered with downy hair. Because it is such a pretty flower, many hybrid species have been created, and it is classified by various names depending on the type. Hanoi Lannon, Butterfly Lannon, Lady Lannon, Magic Rose... etc., each with its own characteristics.

 It has very similar habits to anemones, and the unique stamens in the middle add to the fun of viewing. The language of flowers varies depending on the color: red means “you are attractive,” pink means “unpretentious beauty,” orange means “secret love,” purple means “perfection,” and white means “purity.”

 Like the climatic characteristics of the Asia Minor region, it grows well in strong direct sunlight and likes warm, dry climates, so it is a flower best suited for spring in Korea, around April to May.

 

 

Hanoi ranunculus, whose flower language means purity ( Image by Petra from Pixabay)

 

How to use ranunculus?

 Because it is such a lovely-looking flower, this ranunculus is most often used along with roses as a wedding decoration representing May, the queen of the season. Although they look similar at first glance, they have an even more attractive appeal due to the shape of their delicate petals. There are cases where multiple flowers hang on one stem, but the problem is that the stems are too weak to protect the large flower face of this ranunculus. The stem has a somewhat soft texture and is hollow, similar to a gerbera. Therefore, if you leave the water stand on it, it will not be able to last for a long time and a bend neck phenomenon will occur. Therefore, in decorations that need to be maintained for a long time, an iron core is pierced into the face of the flower to maintain the stem, or a wiring technique is used.

 Another disappointing thing is that compared to the very beautiful flower face, the scent is not that strong and the stems fade quickly when placed in water. In the case of beautiful butterfly ranunculus, when you purchase it and place it in water, it often ends up drooping like dead spinach. In this case, if you quickly treat it with boiling water and water it, you can keep it healthy for a long time.

 In the case of basic ranunculus, it can be used as a focal point or designed in combination with roses or tulips. Children with small flower faces, such as Hanoi ranunculus, provide fun by using them as points that connect the rhythm of the gaze, and in the case of the butterfly ranunculus that flies in the sky, they are also used as line flowers.

 When making a bouquet for a wedding, it is best to combine it with orchid-type green to give a neat feeling, and when using it in a centerpiece or flower basket, it can be used as a mass flower to create an excellent presentation.