Ranunculus asiaticus 'Mache Pastel Mix' is a seed-grown strain of Persian buttercup that features fully double orange, scarlet, and yellow blooms above dark green foliage that grows to 16 inches in height during cool weather. When temperatures warm, the plants stop growing and store their nutrients in bulbs. For this reason, the seeds are sown in a cool greenhouse in winter, six weeks before bloom time. The bulbs, which resemble a hand with fingers, are hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, and can be harvested and kept in a cool dark place until next winter, for replanting in a cool, sunny environment. The genus Ranunculus was derived by Pliny from the Latin rana, meaning frog — a reference to the wet places in which many species thrive (not this one). There are more than 400 species within this genus, ranging from annuals and biennials through perennials. Ranunculus are native to damp mountain meadows, woodlands, stream sides, and the scree of temperate and tropical mountain regions.