Ranunculus 2011

[mark smyth]

I saw this today in a friends garden labelled as Ranunculus flabellata. Googling it it should be a aquatic plant. Is this a Ranunculus?

[Lesley Cox]

The leaves are a little like R. amplexicaule, but not that.

Did you discover what your plant was that had invaded your trough? Did it come through the winter OK?

[mark smyth]

The plant in the trough is getting bigger but no sign of flowers. More came up in troughs which means seeds came in the soil or leaf mould

[Stephenb]

Looks a bit  like native Lesser Spearwort (Ranunculus flammula)? See, for example, http://www.honeysomeaquaticnursery.co.uk/shop/images/Ranunculus%20Flammula.jpg
Grows in boggy areas.

R. flabellata is a synonym for R. paludosus (the Plant List), clearly also a bog plant from the epithet, but pictures don't look at all like your plant.

[Tony Willis]

Darren gave me some Ranunculus asiaticus from Mt Hermon which are the red form  and this one came up amongst them. The normal red is in the background.

[Darren]

I'd apologise for the mongrel but suspect you won't be too disappointed with it...

[Tony Willis]

Darren

as you will have noticed I have not weeded it out!! Some might think it is better than the original.

[Darren]

Has 'Ken Aslet' come into flower yet? This clone is very late with me and not open yet. It is the best red I grow, with huge flowers.
( I feel the lateness is connected with the known hardiness of this clone - it is always worryingly late to start into growth too - no sign until late december this time around)

[pehe]

After a long winter spring it is here.

1. Ranuculus kochii April the 1st (2 months later than Marks!)
2. R. koichii in another place
3. Same as 1, 10 days later
4. R. kochii, Narcissus cyclamineus, Corydalis 'George Baker' (same plants as i 2, 10 days later)

Poul

[mark smyth]

Poul your form is much more compact than mine. Maybe it's because of better light levels at this time of year

[pehe]

Mark, in previous years with mild winters they have flowered in February. In these years they were also very compact. The light level does not seem to be that important. The site in pic 1 and 3 is a south facing raised bed in full sun while the plants in pic 2 and 4 are growing in partly shade in the border of some Rhododendron. Maybe I have a particular compact clone. By the way, they seem to set seeds this year for the first time. If they succeed, I can send you some.

Poul

[mark smyth]

thanks

[Tony Willis]

Has 'Ken Aslet' come into flower yet? This clone is very late with me and not open yet. It is the best red I grow, with huge flowers.
( I feel the lateness is connected with the known hardiness of this clone - it is always worryingly late to start into growth too - no sign until late december this time around)

Yes Ken Aslet is also in flower. I had not realised it is semi-double and so a very robust flower. I have not given them any frost protection this year although they are under glass. They have all survived but are poor compared with previous years when I have kept them just frost free at the roots. Not something I will repeat.

[mark smyth]

Stephen, thanks for trying to ID the Ranunculus

Is anyone growing the minute R. extorris?

[PeterT]

How lovely Mark