Ranunculus hybrida Vortex F1 Orange - Persian Buttercup

The Vortex F1 Orange florists' buttercup is part of a series of very recent hybrids selected for their compact habit, well-branched growth, and intense, vibrant colours. This Orange variety produces extremely double flowers that evolve from dark orange, slightly burnt, to bright orange. It is a small perennial bulbous plant, but tender, often cultivated as a biennial. It will bring a sparkling touch to perennial borders and make charming flowering pots. Not content with being so adorned, its very coquettish flowers last 3 weeks in a vase. It can be grown in partial shade or in full sun, in moist, humus-rich soil.

The Ranunculus asiaticus, also known as Asian buttercup, garden buttercup or Oriental buttercup, is a herbaceous perennial plant with tubers native to the eastern Mediterranean (Greece, Crete). It belongs to the buttercup family, just like our Buttercup. This botanical species has given rise to numerous cultivars by hybridization with others, which are grouped under the name Ranunculus (x) hybrida. The Vortex F1 Orange Buttercup is a compact variety that does not exceed 20 cm (8in) in height, with early spring flowering, often used for ornamental purposes in flower boxes. From late March to late May, each plant produces numerous large, full cup-shaped flowers with diaphanous petals. These flowers measure 3 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) in diameter, and their centre is filled with small petals resembling a whirlwind, which inspired the name of this hybrid series 'Vortex'.

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

The Vortex F1 Orange buttercup can be cultivated in borders, rockeries, and even in pots on a terrace. It is a highly ornamental plant that is also used in bouquets for its excellent durability. It can be combined in floral compositions with other varieties of different colours, with old-fashioned roses that resemble it so much, or even with modern roses with perfect forms, in white or mauve. Lavender-flowered nepetas are also good companions for this variety, as well as lobelias and love-in-a-mist. By digging up the tubers in autumn to store them before the first frost, this plant can be grown like a gladiolus.