Ranunculus andersonii

[James Mikkelsen]

I saw Ranunculus andersonii on a seed selling website recently. I went back to the website and *poof* the chance to buy it was gone: it was missing from the list.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any Ranunculus andersonii for sale or trade. Please let me know.

Regards,
James

[Booker]

An iconic and magnificent ranunculus, James ... along with R. semiverticillatus and R. acraeus, the cream of buttercups.
I have germinated it twice, grown it on briefly just once and coveted it ever since.

[Hoy]

It is eay to grow, then, Cliff ?

[Spiegel]

It is eay to grow, then, Cliff ?

Probably only if you are Cliff!!!  Cliff grows Ranunculus glacialis among other fabulous buttercups.

[McDonough]

some pretty pictures:
http://www.nargs.org/nargswiki/show_image.php?id=2530&scalesize=o
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0508+2113
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0310+2374
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=7269+3192+0004+0009
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0409+0162
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bryanto/3205972420/#/

[Peter George]

It appears that Ron Ratko and Alan Bradshaw have listed the seed in the past. I spoke with Harvey Wrightman also, and he indicated that he germinated it, but that it wasn't an easy plant to grow on. He lost all of the seedlings over the first summer. It certainly is beautiful, though.

[Weiser]

Just this last summer I moved six dormant plants into my garden. I have my fingers crossed that they take hold. They grow on sharply drained north facing slopes in this area. The soil is a stony clay that is vernaly moist, drying to a hard crust through the spring. They go dormant by early-mid July, receiving almost no rain through the months of July through September. When you find them they are abundant.

 I will endeavor to collect seed next season for the seed exchange.

[Peter George]

Ranunculus seed is usually ephemeral, so perhaps we can arrange a private seedex, just for us buttercup afficianados.

[Weiser]

The private seedex idea is fine by me! 

[RickR]

Ranunculus seed is usually ephemeral.

Apparently, Ranunculus gramineas is one of the exceptions.  I received seed through NARGS, planted in late February, and the seed emerged in late summer as it is supposed to.

[James Mikkelsen]

Hey All,

Thanks for the discussion and for the hope that some seed will be gathered. 

From 1994 to 2001 I worked at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah (try it on Google Earth... you'll be amazed at the desert, the stark beauty and  the grids that were made in the 40's, 50's and 60's that the military launched bombs onto).  This military installation had multiple populations of Ranunculus andersonii.  What Weiser said is spot on:

"They grow on sharply drained north facing slopes. The soil is a stony clay that is vernaly moist, drying to a hard crust through the spring. They go dormant by early-mid July, receiving almost no rain through the months of July through September. When you find them they are abundant."

Merry Christmas Everyone,
James

[McDonough]

James, I didn't even know of this gorgeous Ranunculus before your posting, thanks so much for bringing it to the forefront, it shows that there are some North American Ranunculi that vie for honors with the revered European alpine Ranunculus species.  Now, the New Zealand Ranunculi, that's another story

[Lori S.]

Wow, that is an extraordinary plant!  I'm surprised too to see that it's North American... I had no idea!

[Spiegel]

Thanks for the picture links, Mark.  What a dazzling plant in bloom and the buds are equally beautiful.   

[Peter George]

Ranunculus seed is usually ephemeral.

Apparently, Ranunculus gramineas is one of the exceptions.  I received seed through NARGS, planted in late February, and the seed emerged in late summer as it is supposed to.

How many of us have had similar experiences with Ranunculus seed? I once had several R. glacialis seed from NARGS seedex germinate, but otherwise I've never had any germination.