Which Ranunculus Series Is Right for You?

A Grower’s Guide to Bloom Time, Heat Tolerance, and Flower Power

Ranunculus might look delicate, but don’t let those layers of petals fool you—they’re workhorses in the cut flower world. With so many breeding lines now available (Amandine, Butterfly, Romance, and beyond), choosing the right ranunculus for your garden, farm, or floral studio can feel like speed dating: fast, full of potential, and slightly overwhelming.

Let’s break down the most popular ranunculus series by bloom style, heat tolerance, stem structure, and design aesthetic so you can grow smarter, not harder.

🌸 Butterfly™ Series: Light, Shimmery, and Productive

The Vibe: Airy, ethereal, and a little show-offy—in a good way.

• Bloom Style: Single or semi-double blooms with a signature sheen (thanks to a waxy coating that gives petals a natural glow). These often bloom in sprays with multiple blooms per stem. The waxy coating leads to long-lasting blooms. 

• Color Palette: Soft pastels to moody hues—peach, rose gold, lemon, smoky plum, bronze, and multicolored (picotee) types.

• Stem Structure: Tall, branching stems with 7-12 blooms per stem under ideal conditions.

• Heat Tolerance: Very good—less prone to rot, more forgiving overall.

• Ideal For: Designers who love texture, growers who want productivity.

🧠 Bonus: They're hardier than they look and last longer in the vase than you'd expect. They’re ranunculus... but different. Think filler + focal in one.

🌱 Amandine Series: The Reliable Overachiever

The Vibe: Classic, consistent, and built for performance.

• Bloom Style: Fully double, rose-like blooms with tight layering. Begins flowering 8-10 weeks after sprouts emerge. Overnight temperatures below freezing will slow the timeline.

• Color Palette: Soft pastels (Rose, White, Salmon) to bold brights (Red, Purple, Tiger)

• Stem Structure: Long, upright, florist-ready

• Heat Tolerance: Strong—better than most other series to extend the growing season.

• Ideal For: Flower farmers, wedding florists, spring market growers

🧠 Bonus: Uniform growth and great succession potential. Bloom time is mid-season, depending on planting.

🌼 La Belle Series: The Early Bloomer with French Flair

The Vibe: Timeless, romantic, and a little head start on the competition.

• Bloom Style: Full, symmetrical double blooms. Flowers about 6-8 weeks after sprouts emerge, or about 2 weeks earlier than Amadine. Overnight temperatures below freezing will slow the timeline.

• Color Palette: Wide range—Champagne, Red, Rose, and other classic shades

• Stem Structure: Strong enough for cutting, great for early-season bouquets

• Heat Tolerance: Moderate to low—prefers cool climates or an early start if you are in a warmer climate.

• Ideal For: Great for home gardeners and those growing for the cut-flower industry.

🧠 Bonus: Plant La Belle and Amandine side by side? La Belle usually flowers first.

💐 Elegance Series: Italian-Bred, Market-Ready Blooms

The Vibe: Curated, clean, and wedding-ready.

• Bloom Style: Large, high-petal-count flowers often mistaken for peonies

• Color Palette: Cream, blush, coral, red, burgundy, and saturated tones

• Stem Structure: Long, upright, vase-worthy

• Heat Tolerance: Moderate—balanced bloom window, not too early or late. I grow in East Tennessee and this grow beautifully for me.

• Ideal For: Florists, growers who love clean lines, dependable form, and predictable color.

🧠 Bonus: Bred by the same folks who brought you Mistral and Levante anemones.

💘 Romance™ Series: Drama, Depth & Designer Appeal

The Vibe: Tall, dark, and handsome—with petals for days.

• Bloom Style: Fully double, oversized blooms (some palm-sized!)

• Color Palette: Moody, romantic tones—blush, mauve, burgundy, salmon, champagne, and fringe-petal types like Ramlia

• Stem Structure: Long (24–30”), solid stems (not hollow = disease-resistant)

• Heat Tolerance: Excellent—vigorous growers with a long bloom window.

• Ideal For: High-end florals, weddings, large-scale cut flower production

🧠 Bonus: 10–15 stems per corm is common. This series is extra, and we love that for it.

💎 Cloni Series: Designer Drama with a Side of Diva

The Vibe: Slow to start, but absolutely stunning. Premium cut-flower royalty with limited availability at the retail level due to plant breeders rights and agreements.

• Bloom Style: Double with lush, layered petals. Many look like a cross between a peony and a rose only better.

• Bloom Time: Later than Aviv—plan on a slightly longer wait.

• Heat Tolerance: Moderate. Likes cooler conditions and careful handling.

• Stem Structure: Tall, florist-grade.

• Color Range: Romantic and rare—mauve, blush, soft pinks, whites, antique tones.

• Ideal For: High-end florists, wedding work, and anyone who doesn’t mind pampering their plants a little.

🧠 Bonus: These are cloned from elite plants, which means consistency in bloom form and color—but they’re fussier. Worth it? If you’re after next-level 'nuncs, absolutely.

🌟 Tecolote® Series: Big Blooms for Everyone

The Vibe:  Accessible, gorgeous, and generous.

• Bloom Style: Form is very much like a poppy, sometimes like a double and up to 4" like a peony but usually much smaller. Ruffly, not consistently full like other varieties. 

• Color Palette: Broad spectrum—solid brights, pastels, and bi-colors (like Pink Picotee and Salmon)

• Stem Structure: Tall (18–24"), florist-friendly

• Heat Tolerance: Good—adapted well for North American climates

• Ideal For: Beginners, backyard gardeners, or market growers who want to add volume.

🧠 Bonus: Bred in California. 

✨ Aviv Series: Fast, Tough, and Colorful

The Vibe: Practical, pretty.

• Bloom Style: Double blooms with many layers, but not as showy as Elegance, Romance, etc. 

• Bloom Time: Earlier than Amadine, but I can't speak to how this variety compares to others.

• Heat Tolerance: Very good. Performs well in zones with warm springs or shoulder seasons.

• Stem Structure: Medium to tall, great for cutting but may not be ideal for florists.

• Color Range: Bold and classic.

• Ideal For: Farmers and gardeners who want reliable spring cuts with a punch of color.

  ---

   

🌼 Final Thoughts: Which Ranunculus Is Right for You?

If you’re after:

• ✂️ Cut flower production → You can't go wrong with any of these lines!

• 🌿 Something different → Try Butterfly™ 

• 🏁 Early blooms → La Belle leads the race

• 🏁 Late blooms and Better Heat Tolerance → Amadine will close the season strong

• 💐 Big, elegant, lush flowers → Romance™, Elegance, Cloni

• 🎨 Color variety → You can’t go wrong.

Still unsure? Drop your zone and garden goals—I’ll help you pick your perfect match.

Ready to shop ranunculus corms? Browse the collection now →