The Ranunculus Takeover & Beat the Heat!
The State of the Nursery
Well, spring has well and truly made up its mind. We've hit 20°C this week, and the nursery has responded accordingly. Some crops are racing ahead of schedule, others are putting on a show we weren't quite expecting yet, and the tulips are looking at us with a very clear message (more on that shortly).
The warm spell is a double-edged sword, though. It accelerates everything beautifully, but it also means some windows are closing faster than usual. So this week's report is equal parts celebration and gentle nudge… There are some things you really don't want to miss.
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The Headline Act: Ranunculus in Full Bloom
If there's one flower that was made for this moment, it's the Ranunculus, and right now, we are absolutely in its natural season. The crops are coming into their natural peak: full, layered blooms with that almost unreal depth of petal that makes them a perennial favourite with florists, event stylists, and anyone who just wants something genuinely show-stopping on their kitchen table.
These are, without question, the hero flowers of spring. Versatile enough for a grand wedding arch, delicate enough for a single bud vase, and, crucially, available in a palette broad enough to suit almost any brief.
The Collections — 40-Stem Curated Bundles
If you want range without the faff of mixing yourself, our bundles are the answer:
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Rainbow Bundle: for when you want impact. A vibrant, high-energy mix that photographs brilliantly and stops people in their tracks.
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Pastel Bundle: the soft spring aesthetic done properly. Dreamy, cohesive, and endlessly versatile for weddings and events.
The Sorbet Palette — Straight Colours
For florists who like to build their own combinations, our straight colour lines are where it gets really exciting. Think Vanilla, Peach, Raspberry Ripple; names that do exactly what they promise. These are the colours that photograph beautifully, sell themselves by name alone, and have customers coming back specifically to ask for them.
The Bold & Dark
Not every brief calls for soft and bright. For contrast, drama, or a more contemporary edge, we have Plum, Aubergine, and Yellow Picotee. Each one of these is capable of anchoring an arrangement or adding the kind of depth that elevates the whole thing.
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Pro Tip: Getting the Most from Your Ranunculus
A flower this good deserves to last, so here's what you need to know to keep them at their best.
The Hollow Stem Challenge
Ranunculus have hollow stems, which means they can trap air and struggle to drink properly if you're not careful. Always cut stems at an angle under water if possible, and re-cut them every couple of days.
Clean Vase, Clean Water
This one sounds obvious, but it makes a significant difference. Bacteria in the water are the enemy of stem firmness. A genuinely clean vase (not just rinsed) and fresh, cool water changed every two days will add days to your vase life.
The Secret Ingredient
For professional stem conditioning, we'd recommend Chrysal CVBN; it's specifically formulated to keep water bacteria-free and stems firm. If you don't have it to hand, a very small amount of bleach (around 5ml per litre) works as a practical alternative. It sounds counterintuitive, but it does the job.
Scented Stocks & Butterfly Ranunculus
Scented Stocks
There are flowers you see, and flowers you smell before you see them. Scented stocks are firmly in the second category, and if you haven't had them in your shop or studio this spring, you're missing one of the most reliably crowd-pleasing crops we grow. The fragrance is genuine, generous, and, quite frankly, does half your selling for you.
We do want to be straight with you: there's a crop gap coming. Stock availability will dip in the next week or two as the current flush finishes. So if you've been thinking about it, now is the time to order; don’t wait too long.
Butterfly Ranunculus
Still available, and very much worth your attention if you haven't tried them alongside standard Ranunculus. Where the standard variety gives you that full, densely layered bloom, the Butterfly Ranunculus brings a lighter, more open texture, almost airy in an arrangement.
The two together create a really interesting contrast in form while keeping a cohesive look.
Last Call: Mini Tulips & 'On the Bulb'
The 20°C weather we've been celebrating elsewhere in this report is doing the tulips no favours. Warm temperatures shorten the mini tulip season significantly, and we're now genuinely at the tail end. These really do need to go.
If you have a quick-turnaround event this week, a garden centre retail display, or you just want to take advantage of some great late-season pricing, now is the moment. Once they're gone, they're gone until next year.
→ Tulips
Coming Soon: Ben's Alstroemeria
Next week we have something to look forward to. Ben's Alstroemeria crop is nearly ready, and it's a good one. Alstroemeria is one of those underrated workhorses that every florist should have in their toolkit, with exceptional vase life, great stems, and a versatility that means it earns its place in everything from supermarket bunches to high-end arrangements.
These should go live on the site for Wednesday delivery, so keep an eye out.
Order Over the Weekend
Spring is moving fast this year, faster than usual, in fact. The crops we're celebrating today will look different in two weeks, and some of them won't be available at all. If you've been tempted by anything in this report, the time to order is now, not later.
As always, we're on Instagram posting nursery videos and updates throughout the week; it's the best way to see the flowers as they actually are, straight from the field.
Give us a follow if you're not already there.