Core skills - Part 3: Pressing butterfly ranunculus

Part 3 - Pressing Butterfly Ranunculus

Ranunculus are beautiful flowers, but notoriously difficult to press. Luckily we have found that butterfly ranunculus, a variety of this gorgeous species, are easier to press and preserve.

Tips for Pressing Butterfly Ranunculus

• They are quite a spriggy flower, so you will probably need to trim pieces off and press them separately.
• It doesn't matter which way the flower head faces, it's whatever feels the most comfortable or looks the prettiest.
• Make sure to separate the buds and give as much space as you can around each element of the flower.
• Alternate the direction of the flowers between each layer to ensure there is an even distribution of moisture throughout your press.
• Butterfly ranunculus will take around 2-3 weeks to completely dry out. Check them a couple of times within this time frame to see if any of the paper feels damp and replace them with a fresh sheet when necessary.

You Will Need:

• Flower press
• Card
• Absorbent paper such as watercolour or blotting paper
• Freshly cut Butterfly Ranunculus
• Masking tape
• Pen

Flowers Used:

• Butterfly Ranunculus

Sourcebook

New Covent Garden Flower Market

Aya Engei Nursery in Japan