Ranunculus in Zone 5a & 5b
Ranunculus asiaticus
Yes, ranunculus grows in zones 5a and 5b. Plant it outside May 3–May 10.
When to plant ranunculus in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 3–May 10 |
| Estimated bloom | Aug 16–Aug 23 (~105 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 5 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 5b
These go outside within two weeks of ranunculus in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- NasturtiumMay 17–May 24
- MarigoldMay 17–May 24
- Bells of IrelandMay 3–May 10
- CarnationMay 3–May 10
- Orlaya (Laceflower)May 3–May 10
- Phlox (Annual)May 3–May 10
Ranunculus produces some of the most densely petaled, rose-like blooms of any corm in this group, but it comes with a genuine climate split: gardeners in mild-winter zones plant it in fall like the hardy bulbs, while everyone in colder zones plants it in spring instead.
How ranunculus fits zone 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Ranunculus needs about 105 days from sowing to first bloom.
Ranunculus planting windows in every zone
Zone 5b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Not usually | May 13–May 20 | Aug 26–Sep 2 |
| 3a & 3b | Not usually | May 23–May 30 | Sep 5–Sep 12 |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 8–May 15 | Aug 21–Aug 28 |
| 5a & 5b (your zone) | Not usually | May 3–May 10 | Aug 16–Aug 23 |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Apr 18–Apr 25 | Aug 1–Aug 8 |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Apr 3–Apr 10 | Jul 17–Jul 24 |
| 8a & 8bFall window | Not usually | Oct–Dec | ~105 days after direct-sowing |
| 9a & 9bFall window | Not usually | Oct–Dec | ~105 days after direct-sowing |
| 10a & 10bFall window | Not usually | Oct–Nov | ~105 days after direct-sowing |
| Spring window | Not usually | Feb–Mar | ~105 days after direct-sowing |
Bloom dates are about 105 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for ranunculus.
Where to buy ranunculus bulbs
We haven't vetted bulb/tuber suppliers yet. Our seed-supplier list below doesn't carry these. The growing-guide source cited above is a good starting point for where to buy.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a clear consensus of positive, independent reviews, or ones we bought and use ourselves. Each item on our gear page says which.
See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing ranunculus" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 5b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
Pin this for later
Growing Ranunculus in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
Save to Pinterest