Ranunculus hybrida Vortex F1 Orange Pink - Persian Buttercup

The botany of florist's ranunculus Vortex F1 Orange Pink is part of a series of very recent hybrids selected for their compact habit, well-branched growth, and intense and vibrant colors. This Orange Pink variety displays extremely double flowers in spring, with a colour that is a bright orange touched with pink in the center. It is a small perennial bulbous plant, but tender, which will add a sparkling touch to perennial borders and allow for charming flowering pots. Not content with this, its very coquettish flowers last 3 weeks in a vase. It can be grown in partial shade or full sun, in moist, humus-rich soil.

The Asian ranunculus Ranunculus asiaticus, also known as garden ranunculus or Oriental ranunculus, is a perennial herbaceous plant with tubers native to the eastern Mediterranean (Greece, Crete). It belongs to the botany of the buttercup family, just like our buttercups. This botanical species has produced numerous cultivars through hybridization, which are grouped under the name Ranunculus (x) hybrida. The Vortex F1 Orange Pink Ranunculus is a compact variety, not exceeding 20 cm (8in) in height, with early spring flowering, often used for ornamental purposes in containers. From late March to late May, each plant bears numerous large flowers with very full cups and diaphanous petals. These flowers measure 3 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) in diameter, and their hearts are 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 ranunculus can reach a height of 35 cm (14in). It is a hardy plant that can withstand temperatures down to -10°C (14°F). Its root is perennial and consists of several small elongated tubers, gathered in a vascular bundle, sometimes called "neck".

The Vortex F1 Orange Pink ranunculus can be grown in borders, rockeries, 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 roses that resemble it so much, or even with modern roses with perfect shapes, in white or mauve. Lavender-flowered nepetas are also good companions for this variety, as well as lobelias and nigellas. By lifting the tubers in autumn to store them before the frost, this plant can be grown like a gladiolus.