Ranunculus hybrida Vortex F1 Lemonade - Persian Buttercup

The Vortex F1 Lemonade florists' buttercup is part of a series of very recent hybrids selected for their compact habit, well-branched growth, and intense, vibrant colours. This Lemonade variety bears extremely double flowers in a very bright yellow colour, with a small green throat. It is a small, tender perennial bulbous plant that is often cultivated as a biennial. It will bring a sparkling touch to perennial borders and make charming flowering pots. Not content with being adorned in this way, its very pretty flowers also last 3 weeks in a vase. It can be grown in partial shade or full sun, in moist, humus-rich soil.

The Ranunculus asiaticus, also known as the Asiatic buttercup or the Persian buttercup, is a herbaceous perennial plant with tubers, native to the Eastern Mediterranean (Greece, Crete). It belongs to the buttercup family, just like our common buttercup. This botanical species has produced numerous cultivars through hybridization, which are grouped under the name Ranunculus (x) hybrida. The Vortex F1 Lemonade Buttercup is a compact variety that does not exceed 20 cm (8in) in height, with early spring flowering, often used for ornamental containers. From late March to late May, each plant bears many large, very full cup-shaped flowers with translucent petals. These flowers measure 3 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) in diameter and have a whirlwind-like center, which inspired the name of this hybrid series 'Vortex'.

Its foliage forms a rosette. The basal leaves measure 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6in) in length and are pale to dark green, divided into three deep lobes. At maturity, this Asian buttercup can reach a height of 35 cm (14in). It is a moderately hardy plant that can withstand temperatures down to -10°C (14°F). Its root is long-lived and consists of several small elongated tubers, grouped together in a vascular bundle, sometimes called a "claw".

The Vortex F1 Lemonade buttercup can be cultivated in borders, rock gardens, and even in pots on a terrace. It is a very ornamental plant that is also used in bouquets for its excellent longevity. It can be combined in floral arrangements with other varieties of different colours, with old-fashioned roses that resemble it so much, or even with modern roses with perfect shapes, in white or mauve. Nepetas with lavender flowers are also good companions for this variety, as well as lobelias and nigellas. By lifting the tubers in autumn to store them before the first frost, this plant can be cultivated like a gladiolus.