Buttercup creeping: description, rules of cultivation and application. What does a buttercup look like? From leg cramps.

Buttercup is a tender herb with amazingly beautiful flowers. Particularly interesting garden forms with large spherical heads. The plant belongs to the family Buttercup. The genus is represented not only by ornamental species, but also by weeds with caustic and poisonous juice. Buttercups are common in the temperate and cold climate of the entire Northern Hemisphere. They live in open meadows and fresh water. The scientific name of the buttercup - “ranunculus” - comes from the word “frog”. It is given for the ability to grow where amphibians live.

Larger bulbs contain more stored energy to support a stronger plant with more flowers. In warm climates, the ranunculus can be planted on beds and curbs, cutting gardens and containers. They make good companions for other spring flowers, such as primroses, pansies and larks. In colder climates, a ranunculus grows best in pots and planters. This makes it easy to give away your center of flowers and admire them closely. Plant them in pots in the fall for flowers in late winter and early spring.

What a buttercup looks like

Buttercup is a perennial or annual with direct branched shoots up to 20-100 cm in height. It has a fibrous root system, on the processes of which spidery, spider-like tubers are formed. On the thickened ribbed stem is located the next foliage with whole toothed or dissected plates. It has a bluish-green or dark green color. The leaves do not differ in large sizes, usually the length does not exceed 6 cm.

Loosen the soil in the garden or fill the pot with coarse, well drained vegetable mixture. Place the bulbs 4 apart and 2 deep with the side down. Cover the bulbs with soil and water as needed. A ranunculus is a cold weather plant. They do not like warm temperatures and hot sun. For best results, plant the bulbs on light, well-drained soil. Avoid soil that remains moist as this can cause bulbs to rot.

In warm climates, the ranunculus plants form a rather large root ball. When planting bulbs in the garden or in the pot do not forget to fill the plants. For long bouquets, ranunculus flowers should be cut when they begin to show color. Widely grown for cut flowers, Lunkunus bulbs reliably produce many individual flowers from a single tuberous bulb. Also called Persian buttercups, they bloom for several weeks in the late spring and make beautiful cut flowers.

In June-July, beautiful flowers bloom on the tops of the stems. They can be simple or terry, like flowers of roses and peonies. The number of flower elements is a multiple of 5 (less often 3). The diameter of the corolla depends on the variety and can be 2-10 cm. The color of the flowers is very diverse (monophonic or variegated): bright salmon, purple, yellow, orange, cream, white. In the center there are many short stamens and pistils. The flowering period lasts about a month. In cutting the flowers will stand in a vase for at least a week.

Replace them in early spring as soon as the soil thaw. Double or semi-circular flowers look like old-fashioned pink cabbages and last for weeks as a cut flower. Crepe paper flower petals can be red, orange, pink, yellow, white, cream or variegated.

The dark green basal leaves of the ranunculus are lobed and hairy. Grow a ranunculus in full sun to partial shade. They prefer light soil, but will grow in loamy clay soil if it is well drained. Department of Agriculture.

Collecting and harvesting

Stability zones 7 to. Ranunculus grows from prickly bulbs or tubers. Increase your reserves by dividing the tubers when they grow, and have several “eyes” or growing buds. Cut them into smaller sections, ensuring that each section has at least one eye from which new growth can emerge.

Use in traditional medicine

Soak them in water at room temperature for 24 hours before planting. The tuber space is about 6 inches from each other in groups of three to five on the border with flowers or rows spaced from 12 to 18 inches from each other in the garden for blooming flowers. Do not water until the stems appear. Cut dried flower heads to increase flower production. When the foliage dries after midsummer, hold water or scoop them up and store in a dry place until planting time.

After pollination by insects form complex fruits - polynokoshki. Ripening, they burst on their own, freeing fuzzy bulging seeds. There are several dozen of them in each fruit.

Attention! Buttercup juice is poisonous. Its name comes from the word "fierce", capable of destroying the animal and man. It can cause irritation on the skin and poisoning, therefore, all work is carried out with gloves, and also is not allowed to the colors of animals and children.

Classic views

Already today more than 400 species of plants are included in the genus of buttercup, and the list continues to grow.

Buttercup caustic (night blindness). Herbaceous perennial 20-50 cm tall consists of upright, branched stems. Foliage is located throughout the height of the shoots, but quite rare. Below it is larger, almost integral. Upper leaflets strongly dissected, with linear lobes. In June, simple yellow flowers appear with 5 broad petals. In diameter, they do not exceed 2 cm.

Golden buttercup (yellow). The inhabitant of wet shady meadows grows up to 40 cm in height. There are almost no leaves on a straight stalk. The rosette consists of rounded toothed leaves on long petioles. Above is linear sessile foliage. Small yellow flowers have a pubescent cup and a simple bell-shaped corolla. They bloom in April-June.

A perennial plant with lodging shoots 15-40 cm in height is easily rooted in the nodes upon contact with the soil. The stem is covered with a short nap. Chereshkovaya bright green foliage grows along the entire length. The correct simple yellow flowers consist of 5 petals. They are revealed at the beginning of summer.

Young or annual plant with erect branched stem grows 10-70 cm in height. On the shoots are delicate trifoliate leaves with serrated sides. The ovate broad lobes are colored dark green. In May-June, small umbrella-shaped inflorescences with small (7-10 mm wide) light yellow flowers appear on the tops of the shoots.

Buttercup Asian (asiaticus). Perennial with branched erect stems up to 45 cm in height grows bright green pubescent leaves. In July, flowers bloom, arranged singly or 2-4 pieces per inflorescence. They have a variety of colors and grow 4-6 cm in diameter.

A perennial plant with a bare ascending or erect stem grows 20-50 cm in height. Foliage has a diamond or oval shape. The lower leaflets are fastened with long petioles, while the upper ones sit on the stem. Small flowers (0.8-1.2 cm) grow singly and are colored yellow. The sap of the plant is poisonous and irritating to the skin.

The inhabitant of the marshy reservoirs of Australia due to creeping shoots differs in very modest size. Its height is about 5-20 cm. On straight petioles, carved leaves similar to green snowflakes grow. The plant looks quite decorative and is often used in aquarium.

Grassy perennial 40-80 cm in height consists of upright, branched stems with a short nap. Palmate-dissected foliage is also pubescent. It has elongated lanceolate lobes with incised edges. Simple bright yellow flowers adorn the plant from June to August.

A flowering plant with curved stems 20-30 cm tall grows leaves of a round or heart-shaped form with a diameter of 2-3 cm. The lower ones are located on long petioles, the upper ones are sessile. In early summer, single yellow flowers appear with a hairy receptacle.

A perennial plant with a straight stem branched only in the upper part, 30-60 cm high. Whole leaves are round or heart-shaped, located on the petioles at the base of the shoot. Upper leaflets - palmately dissected, small. Single flowers of a light yellow shade in diameter are 2-3 cm. They bloom in April.

Decorative Garden Buttercup

This group of plants is highly decorative and most common among gardeners. The most interesting varieties:

Buttercup Masha. Compact plant with a branched stem up to 30-40 cm in height dissolves terry flowers with white petals and a bright border.
Buttercup terry (pionovidny). Large monochromatic flowers with close-fitting petals.
French. Semi-double flowers consist of 2-3 rows of wide petals.
Persian. Small simple or semi-double flowers.
Chalmoid. Blossoms in densely colored, spherical flowers.

Breeding methods

Buttercup is propagated by seed and rhizome division. Since most ornamental buttercups do not transmit varietal properties to offspring, purchased seeds are needed for sowing.

Pre-grown seedlings. To do this, in the second half of February, seeds are sown in boxes with sandy-peat or loose garden soil and sprinkled with a thin layer of earth. They are carefully watered and covered with a transparent material. Greenhouse contain in a bright place with a temperature of + 10 ... + 12 ° C. Shoots appear fairly amicably in 15-20 days. From this moment on, the shelter is removed and the pot is transferred to a warmer (+ 20 ° C) room. The lighting should be diffused, but rather intense. If necessary, use fitolampy. When 4-5 leaves appear on the seedlings, they dive into separate peat pots.

Every year, new tuberous growths are formed on the roots. When excavated in September, they are separated. In the frosty winter, the roots do not survive outside. A cool room (+ 19 ... + 21 ° C) is more suitable for them. In the spring, bumps are planted on a flower bed.

Planting and maintenance in the open field

Buttercups are planted in the garden at the end of May, when the probability of frost will finally disappear. Pick up sunny or slightly darkened areas with good protection against drafts. Constant exposure to direct sunlight is undesirable, since flowering will be short-lived and less abundant.

The soil should be neutral or slightly acidic. Close groundwater is contraindicated. It is best to choose fairly loose, nutrient soils with moderate humidity. The site is digged in advance and prepare pits to the depth of the root system. The distance between the plants is 15-20 cm. Some sand or vermiculite is poured at the bottom of each pit. Landing is best done with a pot or a large lump of earth flush with the root neck.

The nodules are presoaked for 12 hours in warm water with potassium permanganate and a growth stimulator. They are planted to a depth of 8-10 cm. The soil is tamped and watered abundantly.

Further care of the plant is not very burdensome. Periodically should weed the beds, remove weeds and break the crust on the surface of the earth.

Watering should be moderate. Only in the absence of precipitation, the flower bed is watered twice a week. Since August, it is necessary to water the plants much less frequently so that the tubers ripen and do not rot. During prolonged rainy weather, planting is covered with a film.

Every 15-20 days the buttercup is fed with mineral complexes. At the beginning of growth, nitrogenous compounds are used, and with the advent of buds, they switch to potassium-phosphoric ones.

To flower bed looked neat, followed immediately cut off the faded flowers.

Buttercups are quite heat-loving plants, so they cannot spend the winter in open ground. In the autumn, when the entire ground part begins to dry, the tubers are dug out. They are dried in a ventilated place and stored in a cloth or pots with a cake.

Buttercup rarely suffers, mainly fungal infections that develop with regular flooding of the soil. The first signal is dropping even unblown buds and flowers. Also on the leaves and stalks may appear brown or whitish plaques. When a disease is detected, it is necessary to temporarily stop watering and treat it with a fungicide.

Beneficial features

Although buttercup is considered a poisonous plant, in small quantities it can have a positive effect on the body. It is used in folk and official medicine. The juice contains saponins, fatty oils, tannins, glycosides, ascorbic acid. Taking the drugs orally stimulates the production of hemoglobin and stabilizes the nervous system. Outwardly use fresh leaves and lotions with decoctions and water infusions. They help fight diseases of the joints, gout, lupus, scabies, calluses.

It is very important not to exceed the dosage, so it is better to use pharmaceuticals, rather than self-made. Also, treatment with buttercup is contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women, as well as people prone to allergies.

Use in the garden

Garden terry or simple buttercups with large, bright flowers will be a wonderful decoration of a mixed flower bed. Depending on their height, they are used on the front or central plan of the flower garden, as well as in rock arias, alpine gardens or mixborders. Some species are successfully cultivated in pots, as indoor plants. Buttercup in a flower bed is usually combined with bells, cornflowers, hosts, evergreen shrubs.

With scrofula, rheumatism and scabies, a buttercup creeping is applied to sore areas of the skin, tumor and boils. The stem is applied to dissolve abscesses or accelerate their maturation. To drink 1 teaspoon of dried leaves and flowers brewed with a glass of boiling water, then the infusion is wrapped and infused for 30 minutes, then filtered and drunk 1 tbsp. spoon thrice a day for headache, epilepsy.

Important! When applying a creeping buttercup when it is applied to the skin, it cannot be used for a long time, as the plant irritates the skin, sometimes leads to tissue necrosis and ulceration.

Buttercup most like shaded areas, but plants can also grow in the sun. But it should be remembered that buttercups bloom in very bright light for long. Even plants do not tolerate drafts.

It is best to plant them under a tree that has a wide, but not too thick crown.

Buttercups require loose and soft earth. They do not like sandy or loamy soil. It is required to pour sand and peat ground into heavy soils. It is necessary that the soil during irrigation absorbs moisture, but it did not linger in the ground.

Buttercups seeds are sown in containers at home in February and April or by root cuttings in August and September. Adult plants are propagated by division. Seed propagation is rarely used, since the seeds germinate very poorly.

Proper reproduction of buttercups creeping seeds:

Sow seeds in the tank in late winter and early March.
Seeds poured grooves, and then sprinkled with a layer of earth 2 cm.
The temperature of the room at this time they require a low + 10-15 ° C.
Capacities with seedlings cover with a film.
After 2-3 weeks, the containers are placed in a warmer room, having a temperature of +20 ° C.

The seedlings grown in the house are placed in the ground in spring, when the ground warms up by 6-8 cm, as buttercups prefer to grow in heat. This can be done in late April or early May. If there is a risk of frost, then planting on top is covered with straw. For planting dig holes 5 cm deep. Indent between the pits make 10 cm. They put the drainage of gravel. After planting sprouts grown from seed.

Planting tubers:

Before planting, the tubers are placed in water at room temperature for 10 hours.
Swollen tubers are planted in a hole 5 cm deep.
Tubers need to have legs down, otherwise they will not germinate.
After planting, it is advised to water the soil with a small amount of water.

When planting tubers shoots appear in 1.5-2 weeks. The larger tuber you planted, the greater the number of flowers bloom on this plant. Flowers bloom in 2.5 months. And by the end of August the fruits of many-ripened fruits ripen, in one many-tip contains 500 small seeds.

It is easy to care for a buttercup, even beginners can grow it:

Watering Watering should be intensive and regular, but not overflowing the plants, as they can rot the roots. If you still watered with too much water, then immediately dig up the buttercups, wash the roots, process the solution of potassium permanganate and leave for 2-3 hours to dry the roots. Then put it in the ground again. Even plants do not tolerate drought, they dry and die rhizomes.

Buttercups can be damaged by various diseases and pests:

Blackleg. When it is in a young seedling at the bottom of the stem, white spots are visible, which then turn brown and the plants die.
Root rot. With this disease, plants grow slowly, then turn yellow, and then die. Buttercups can not be planted in the ground with fresh manure, so they do not get sick root rot.
Fusarium wilt. When the disease on the leaves and stalks are visible brown specks. The plant develops more slowly, and then dies.
Mealy dew. When the disease on the leaves and petioles visible mealy patina, and then there are black dots.
Perinosporosis. In case of illness, plants lag behind, spots appear on the leaves.
Rust. When it fistulas form on the leaves, when they crack, then rust-colored powder begins to crumble from them.

These are tiny worms that grow and develop with an excess of moisture. A plant affected by nematodes may die.

Nematophagin BT is well suited for the destruction of nematodes. It is brought into the ground to a depth of 15-20 cm before planting seedlings, and if the plant is already planted, then make holes and make them into the substance. The drug is safe for animals, people and beneficial insects.

For all these diseases, biological fungicides are used: Baktofit, Fitop, Barrier, Fitosporin, Planzir, Zaslon, Integral, Agat, Trikhodermin. They have a good effect on fungal diseases and have low toxicity.

Even a beginner can grow it. The most important thing is to plant it in the right place and water it properly, since it does not like drought and overflow.

More information can be found in the video: