Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Bulbs => Bulbs General => Topic started by: WimB on March 13, 2014, 06:20:18 PM

Title: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: WimB on March 13, 2014, 06:20:18 PM
Haven't heard a lot about these beauties for a while...they might be a bit thuggish but I still love them...

For today:

A nice new double form: Ranunculus ficaria 'Graham Joseph'
and the first named double Orange flowering form: Ranunculus ficaria 'Nathalie'
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Lesley Cox on March 13, 2014, 08:55:47 PM
They're very nice Wim and Mark will be cheered to see them too. :)
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: WimB on March 16, 2014, 08:33:41 PM
Some more,

Ranunculus ficaria 'Brazen Hussy' and her sister 'Coy Hussy' (with a few green flecks on her leaves)
Ranunculus ficaria 'Double Bronze'
Ranunculus ficaria 'Picton's Double'
Ranunculus ficaria 'Salad Bowl' (A personal favourite and completely sterile)
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: WimB on March 16, 2014, 08:36:21 PM
Ranunculus ficaria 'Salmon's White'
Ranunculus ficaria 'Art Nouveau'
Ranunculus ficaria 'Dahlem'
Ranunculus ficaria 'Martin Gibbs Progeny'
and some cultivars together in my garden.

Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: lettuce begin on March 17, 2014, 07:13:11 PM
Some more,

Ranunculus ficaria 'Brazen Hussy' and her sister 'Coy Hussy' (with a few green flecks on her leaves)
Ranunculus ficaria 'Double Bronze'
Ranunculus ficaria 'Picton's Double'
Ranunculus ficaria 'Salad Bowl' (A personal favourite and completely sterile)

WOW.  Just love that Ranunculus ficaria 'Salad Bowl'.  :o :o Do you know of a supplier in the uk Wim ?
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: annew on March 17, 2014, 07:44:02 PM
It's fascinating - and completely mad!
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: WimB on March 17, 2014, 08:52:32 PM
WOW.  Just love that Ranunculus ficaria 'Salad Bowl'.  :o :o Do you know of a supplier in the uk Wim ?

I'm sorry, but I don't know if anyone in the UK sells it! Your best bet might be either Monksilver nursery or Natural Selection.
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Alan_b on March 21, 2014, 03:10:45 PM
Possibly not too many celandine-fanciers here but I like them.  What is the best way to increase the stock?  They have corms a bit like miniature dahlia tubers.  Should I wait until the plant goes dormant in summer then split off some of these corms in the same way that you would with a dahlia?     
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: WimB on March 21, 2014, 07:42:37 PM
Possibly not too many celandine-fanciers here but I like them.  What is the best way to increase the stock?  They have corms a bit like miniature dahlia tubers.  Should I wait until the plant goes dormant in summer then split off some of these corms in the same way that you would with a dahlia?   

Alan, increasing them is not really hard, you can lift them now and divide them, as long as you make sure you have some corms with a crown, you'll have a new plant. And if you divide in Summer almost every separare "tuber" can make a new plant in the following Spring!
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Palustris on March 21, 2014, 09:34:23 PM
Have you looked at the list here?
http://www.johnjearrard.co.uk/plants/ranunculusficaria/genus.html (http://www.johnjearrard.co.uk/plants/ranunculusficaria/genus.html)
Click on each one for an image.
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: astragalus on March 21, 2014, 10:35:47 PM
Nice to see other people who appreciate these plants.  In my garden they disappear as the garden dries out so they're definitely not thugs at all, just charming.  Thanks for the link.  I had no idea how many varieties there were.
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on March 21, 2014, 10:42:14 PM
In the first incarnation of the SRGC Forum we had a large section devoted to R. ficaria varieties - there were masses of them -  all were lost when that forum was lost. So sad  that all those years of  the forum were lost.  :'(
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: lettuce begin on March 21, 2014, 11:10:38 PM
Thank you for the wonderful link Palustris. I shall definitely be adding a few more to mine and my Mum's small
 collection.
Does he actually sell any plants ?
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on March 21, 2014, 11:29:46 PM
Innes Hogg sells a few cultivars, Cheryl : http://www.craigiehallnursery.co.uk/ourshop/cat_583436-Plants-R.html (http://www.craigiehallnursery.co.uk/ourshop/cat_583436-Plants-R.html)
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Alan_b on March 22, 2014, 09:06:09 AM
So sad  that all those years of  the forum were lost.  :'(
I had a look to see what had been archived, here for example https://web.archive.org/web/20100113134233/http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/8/5092.html?1113744330 (https://web.archive.org/web/20100113134233/http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/8/5092.html?1113744330)
But the pictures are lost (or at best separated from the text and archived elsewhere).
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on March 22, 2014, 01:43:22 PM
It's an odd thing  with the "WayBack" thing - sometimes the photos are preserved, sometimes not.
And. of course, their records are not complete.
Re photos: For instance, some of
the photos of the blackbirds nesting in our glasshouse are included here :
https://web.archive.org/web/20110703133621/http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/321/2151.html?1107207705 (https://web.archive.org/web/20110703133621/http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/321/2151.html?1107207705)


I'll attach the posts in the link shown by Alan above here- as a wee record, at least :

pdf of archived Ranuncula ficaria cultivars
[attachurl=1]
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: lettuce begin on March 22, 2014, 06:45:42 PM
Thank you very much for the link Maggi  ;D
 
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: lettuce begin on March 22, 2014, 07:40:03 PM
Ranunculus ficaria 'Double Green Eye' not everyone's cup tea but I love it.
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Lesley Cox on March 24, 2014, 11:31:05 PM
Alan, increasing them is not really hard, you can lift them now and divide them, as long as you make sure you have some corms with a crown, you'll have a new plant. And if you divide in Summer almost every separare "tuber" can make a new plant in the following Spring!
Managing NOT to propagate them seems to me to be the problem. ::)
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Alan_b on March 25, 2014, 01:13:53 PM
My garden was blessed with a form of Ranunculus ficaria which also produced little 'bulbs' ("tubercules") from the leaf nodes - a characteristic that does not seem to be shared by the cultivated varieties.  I have been trying to eliminate this form in favour of my cultivars and their seedlings with some success.  The cultivars tend to be low-growing and they are only above ground for a few months each year so they would not really be a severe problem even if they got a bit out of hand.  My aim is to use the dark-leaved forms as a contrasting ground cover against which to view other spring flowers, snowdrops for example. 
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on March 25, 2014, 01:23:58 PM
Would the ranuculus foliage be out early enough to achieve that purpose, Alan?  I don't think it would be up here.
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: mark smyth on March 25, 2014, 02:00:30 PM
I love these plants and used to have a massive collection until cats started digging them out and wood pigeons began eating them. I will start again but next time they will be grown in tiny baskets

They are looking good in my garden but are now through each other
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Alan_b on March 25, 2014, 02:18:42 PM
Would the ranuculus foliage be out early enough to achieve that purpose, Alan? 

Good question, Maggi.  I find that mature plants tend to produce some foliage quite early and so yes, early enough for the bulk of the snowdrops.  But it might be that enough celandines to give full coverage of the soil in February would become too dense by flowering time in March - I have not reached that stage yet to find out.
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: astragalus on March 26, 2014, 03:29:14 AM
Mark, I had one year when the squirrels and chipmunks were digging in the R. ficaria and Dicentra cucullaria area like mad.  I was sure they'd all be gone in the spring.  But what happened is that they spread both plants everywhere.  It was the easiest propagating ever.
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Alan_b on March 26, 2014, 07:06:01 AM
I have observed wood pigeons eating the corms of ranunculus ficaria but fortunately for me the were eating the ranunculus ficaria var. bulbifer ones that I want rid of.  I don't think they bother to go prospecting if they can find some tubers above ground as they can in that case.   
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Alan_b on March 26, 2014, 08:47:19 AM
This is a particularly large-leaved form that I found last year; the one I want to propagate.

 
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: lettuce begin on March 26, 2014, 09:33:57 PM
Lovely leaf colour  Alan.
The flowers look good even when closed with that very nice red shading to the back of the petals
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Anne Repnow on March 29, 2014, 07:56:22 PM
Interesting plant, Alan!
I found one with dark spots in the middle of the leaf. So that seems to be a trait that is not totally unusual.

The first two photos are F. ficaria 'Randall's White' - but the silvery colour of the leaves isn't always as prominent as on the first photo
Third photo: good old 'Picton's Double'
Fourth: 'Ken Aslet'
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Alan_b on April 08, 2014, 07:36:14 AM
I have just bought from John Carter a copy of his report on his (then) National Collection of Ranunculus ficaria written in 2007.  This cost £15 for a soft copy in Word format and runs to 47 pages.  It is a comprehensive account of all his cultivars, illustrated with small photographs.  I have not read it thoroughly yet but it seems very good.  You can contact John via his website: http://www.rowdengardens.com/ (http://www.rowdengardens.com/)

John's basic form of e-publishing seems an interesting way to make a little money from a work of reference but one has to trust the purchasers not to abuse the copyright.   
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: mark smyth on April 08, 2014, 05:12:07 PM
I used to have it but lost it. No list of Ranunculus on his web site

Here is something new. Its not the best photo. My camera doesn't like the combination of colours - R. f. Sun Wheel
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Alan_b on April 08, 2014, 05:28:53 PM
I used to have it but lost it.

Perhaps you could ask John Carter for another copy?  If he keeps good records he will have one of your previous payment. 

No list of Ranunculus on his web site

He told me mice became a problem, forcing him to give up his National Collection. 
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Anne Repnow on April 10, 2014, 08:32:57 PM
'Sun Wheel' is very beautiful, Mark!
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: shelagh on April 11, 2014, 03:12:02 PM
WE liked R. f. Brazen Hussy in the first place. but now it has completely over-run the garden.  Attached picture is just one of three bowlfuls Brian has weeded out this week.
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Alan_b on April 11, 2014, 03:34:02 PM
WE liked R. f. Brazen Hussy in the first place. but now it has completely over-run the garden.

But does it do any harm?  It a spring ground-cover that will have completely vanished by about a month from now.  The leaves protect the soil and stop other low-growing plants being splashed when it rains.  The dark leaves make a good backdrop for lighter-coloured flowers.  The only possible objection I can see is if you are trying to achieve a colour scheme that does not permit the yellow flowers.

Also, this year my local up-market garden centre was selling pots of Brazen Hussey at £4 apiece so you should be marketing the plants you weed-out.   
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on April 11, 2014, 06:57:13 PM
I don't know where I got this from but my label says Ranunculus ficaria vat. aurantiacus. Images of this on Google don't look like my plant?
 
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Alan_b on April 12, 2014, 06:45:00 AM
The John Jerrard web site is a great resource for pictures of Ranunculus ficaria.  Here is a link to 'auranticus' http://www.johnjearrard.co.uk/plants/ranunculusficaria/ranunculusficariaaurantiacus/species.html. (http://www.johnjearrard.co.uk/plants/ranunculusficaria/ranunculusficariaaurantiacus/species.html.)  It's a nice orange colour becoming two-tone with age, unlike yours David.
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: mark smyth on April 12, 2014, 02:21:19 PM
Some mixed up named plants and self sown seedlings in the garden.

To the eye each is different but the camera doesn't see much difference
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on April 12, 2014, 03:06:10 PM
Put that lot under your chin ,Mark, and you'll glow like a canary ! Pretty when we see the flowers together.
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: mark smyth on April 12, 2014, 11:22:18 PM
Put that lot under your chin ,Mark, and you'll glow like a canary ! Pretty when we see the flowers together.

I'd bet kids don't do buttercups under chins anymore or shove dandelions in the face and shout "pee the bed"
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Alan_b on April 13, 2014, 07:33:07 AM
In my childhood both plants were used for divination.

If your chin reflected the yellow glow of the buttercup held beneath it that indicated that you 'like butter'.

If you blew on the dandelion seed head then counted the number of seeds remaining that told you what the time was.  The more sophisticated of used to refer to a device strapped to our wrist to tell the time but I don't think kids do that any more either.

 We never did the 'shove in the face' thing although I was always taught that dandelions are called 'pis-en-lit' in French because the leaves are diuretic. 

 

Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: mark smyth on April 20, 2014, 12:15:22 AM
A nice seedling in the garden. A nice seedling in the garden. If I had realised the photo was out of focus I would have taken more but I cant because I picked the only flower
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Alan_b on April 20, 2014, 07:44:34 AM
That is a nice one, Mark, but I presume it is in it's mature phase now and looked different when it first opened. 
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: mark smyth on April 20, 2014, 11:51:05 AM
It opened pale orange also but I didn't photograph it
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on April 24, 2014, 06:43:12 PM
Just been reading a note in the May edition of The Garden that Ranunculus ficaria has now been separated from Ranunculus and is now named as Ficaria verna.
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: mark smyth on April 24, 2014, 11:08:50 PM
I think I read that last year. For me they will remain R. ficaria  ;D
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on April 25, 2014, 09:36:26 AM
I shall not be re-writing my labels!
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Ian Y on April 25, 2014, 10:29:43 AM
I shall not be re-writing my labels!

Labels ? What are they again? ;)
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: astragalus on April 25, 2014, 12:23:30 PM
I think they are deer food.
Title: Re: Ranunculus ficaria 2014
Post by: Alan_b on November 02, 2014, 07:42:11 AM
I have quite a few plants with leaves showing now.  I don't remember seeing them develop this early before - but perhaps I just haven't been observant?
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