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December 2004 Telesonix jamesii November 2004 Ranunculus eschscholtzii October 2004 Crocus speciosus September 2004 Arenaria 'Wallowas' August 2004 Scilla autumnalis July 2004 Leontopodium souliei June 2004 Penstemon pinifolius May 2004 Draba rigida v. bryoides April 2004 Vitaliana primuliflora March 2004 Clematis hirsutissima February 2004 Lewisia pygmaea January 2004 Hymenoxis grandiflora Archive 2003 Archive 2002 Archive 2001 Archive 2000 Archive 1999 Archive 1998 Archive 1997

Plant of the Month November 2004 Ranunculus eschscholtzii by Iza Goroff Ranunculus eschscholtzii is a member of the Ranunculaceae, the Buttercup Family, which includes the horticulturally important genera of Aconitum, Actea, Adonis, Anemone, Anemonella, Anemonopsis, Aquilegia, Callianthemum, Caltha, Cimicifuga, Clematis, Consolida, Coptis, Delphinium, Eranthis, Glaucidium, Helleborus, Hepatica, Hydrastis, Isopyrum, Nigella, Paraquilegia, Ranunculus, Semiaquilegia, Thalictrum, Trautvetteria, Trollius, and Xanthorhiza. The family is considered to be among the most primitive of flowering plants, but it has evolved some very sophisticated chemical defenses; many species, especially of the genus Aconitum, are poisonous. Ranunculus eschscholtzii appears not to be poisonous. Our puppy grabbed a potted plant and started eating it. A day later he discovered where it was planted and continued. The small fragment which remained continued its growth, a testiment to the plant's will to live. Ranunculus eschscholtzii is native to alpine areas throughout western North America from Alaska to California, Alberta to Colorado. It is adapted to a particular environment: the snowmelt runoff where it can be the predominent species. That is a clue to its successful cultivation. It requires plentiful springtime water and a cool environment, best provided by a northern exposure and noon shade. Ranunculus eschscholtzii is a small plant, rarely taller than 3" (8 cm), with 1" (2 cm) shiny yellow flowers, large for the size of the plant. Ranunculus eschscholtzii is a plant for northern gardens; it is unlikely to survive high summer temperatures, nor is it likely to survive warm winters. Its propagation is from seed. It is well worth the effort to accomadate its requirements.