It’s Ranunculus Time! Introducing the 2025 Flower of the Year

Ranuncu-what?

Even if you’re a flower fanatic or have an out-of-this-world garden filled with all sorts of brilliant, seasonal buds and blossoms, you might not be familiar with the exquisite age-old beauty known as the ranunculus (pronounced ruh-nuhng-kyuh-luhs). Even here at 1-800-Flowers.com, we’ve only sold this unique and petal-laden wonder for the past few years. But in that short time, it’s become one of our favorites — and, based on the customer response, one of yours too!

As we welcome in a new year, let’s spend some time with this often underappreciated yet incredible delight — and our selection for the 2025 Flower of the Year.

Who knows? It just might become your brand-new “go-to gift” or decorating mainstay. (We’re betting it does.)

A bloom beyond compare

Breathtaking. Enchanting. Captivating.

Look up ranunculus online or in any garden guide, and these are just a few of the awe-filled words you’ll see that describe the flower’s stunning and majestic appearance.

“I just love the overall look and feel of the ranunculus,” says Alfred Palomares, vice president of merchandising for 1-800-Flowers.com and part of the team tasked with choosing the Flower of the Year. “It has these beautiful rose-like blooms. They’re paper-thin, and they come in layers of petal upon petal upon petal. Those petals pile upon each other and create these really beautiful blooming flowers that are very distinct and very special.”

For those who aren’t familiar with the ranunculus and want to experience it firsthand, Palomares recommends the Radiant Ranunculus Bouquet — an assortment spotlighting all its most impressive and meaningful shades. You get yellow, which represents happiness and joy; white, which symbolizes the idea of new beginnings; and red, a universal representation of love, both romantic and platonic. Finally, most arrangements also include a fair amount of pink ranunculus, which, according to Palomares, represents “sweet admiration.”

“As flowers go, the ranunculus is just so unique and different,” he says. “We know it’s something that’s going to surprise and delight our customers.”

Inside the selection process

The ranunculus joins a long and celebrated list of recent “Flower of the Year” picks, including the peony, orchids, tulip, sunflower, and Gerbera daisy. And choosing a new flower to join these time-honored favorites is no easy task, Palomares says.

“Our mission at 1-800-Flowers is to inspire individuals to build better and more meaningful relationships with all the people in their lives,” he explains. “For us, the ranunculus really embodies that idea. What better way to let someone know that you’re thinking of them than with a really exceptional flower?”

Most important, Palomares says, it’s perfect for giving.

“It’s an ideal way to make someone feel important and loved,” he adds. “As we start a new year and start fresh, moving forward with enthusiastic new intentions, the ranunculus perfectly embodies those ideals. It’s a really happy flower that can bring a smile to your face or someone else’s and will let them know just how much you care for them.”

In other words, he says, it was the ideal choice and representative for the new year ahead.

From bog to bouquet

With its elegant, regal appearance, you might think the ranunculus was a carefully bred flower, crafted through years of exacting hybridization. But as Kevin Cochran, vice president of procurement for 1-800-Flowers.com, explains, it can also be found growing native in many regions all over the world.

In reality, the ranunculus is a simple, natural beauty that’s been around for ages and is happiest in marshy bog-like areas — the same kind of remote, damp lowlands and wild pasture areas where you are also most likely to find frogs.

In fact, that “froggy” relationship is even how the plant got its name. In Latin, “ranunculus” translates to “little frog” — “rana” meaning “frog” and “unculus” meaning “little.”

“The ranunculus grows best in higher altitude, semi-tropic areas where you get cool evenings, warm days, and where it never freezes,” Cochran explains. “A lot of the ranunculus we sell comes from around the Andes Mountains in Colombia and Ecuador,” he says. “We also get some from mountainous areas in Costa Rica — but not the coast. They just don’t do well in excess heat.”

As for the plant itself, the ranunculus is one of a small number of species that grows not by seed or bulb but by “corm.” A corm is basically a thick underground stem that stores excess starches — essentially, backup energy to help keep the ranunculus alive during unfavorable conditions. 

Similar to other “corm-style” plants like crocus, gladiolus, and taro, new ranunculuses grow and expand from offshoots of these corms. The resulting cormlets can be separated from the parent and used to grow new plants. Or, if you’re raising ranunculus in a cooler climate, they can also be dug up in the winter and replanted in the spring, protecting the plant from freezing until the days grow warmer.

“In a place like Colombia or Ecuador, you can plant ranunculus and they essentially become perennials,” Cochran says. “They just keep growing and producing new flowers.” This is great for the plants and the farmers raising them. It also means the ranunculus isn’t impacted by the seasons, and therefore provides nearly year-round availability — which is great for those in the market for a gorgeous gift.

Home care and styling

Keeping a bouquet of ranunculus in your home couldn’t be easier. The hearty, thick-stemmed, scent-free flowers are generally cut right before peak bloom and delivered straight to your door just a few days after harvest. From there, Palomares advises some basic and essential care that applies to most cut flowers.

“First, trim the stems on your ranunculus by at least half an inch when they arrive. Then, fill a clean vase with cool water and add at least half a packet of flower food.

“To make sure your flowers have the longest lifespan possible, be sure to change their water at least every other day, and continue to use the flower food — it will help to enrich the water and prevent bacteria from growing.”

Beyond that, keep your bouquet away from direct sunlight, heaters, and drafty areas — all of which can speed up the wilting process.

A ranunculus arrangement makes quite the statement on its own, Palomares adds. In other words, you don’t have to do much to allow your flowers to shine.

“From a decor perspective, they’re completely appropriate for a main entryway. They can create a beautiful country chic vibe on a living room sideboard. They’re also ideal for any sort of nook in a kitchen or dining area where you’re going to be spending a lot of time.

“They’re going to fit in seamlessly in most places. I wouldn’t over-style them with too much of anything else either — just allow their beauty to take over and be the center point of any space they occupy.”

The ideal gift

When it comes to unforgettable presents, the ranunculus is a true standout.

“This is a simple pasture flower that’s been around forever,” Cochran says. “Generations of people from around the world have appreciated and loved it, so seeing it spread and grow in popularity again — and reach a new generation for the first time — is quite special.”

Palomares agrees. Whether you’re giving someone a bouquet out of romance, friendship, or appreciation, he believes the ranunculus is endearing and impactful — and always makes a perfect gift.

“It’s all about the intention and the love that you want to share with someone,” he says. “No matter who’s receiving them, flowers like the ranunculus engender this sort of joyful moment, no matter what. They help people express themselves more effectively and more genuinely. It’s a beautiful thing!”