Ranunculus hybrida Vortex F1 Hot Pink - Persian Buttercup

The Vortex F1 Hot Pink florist's ranunculus is part of a series of very recent hybrids selected for their compact habit, well-branched growth, and intense and vibrant colors. This Hot Pink variety offers extremely double flowers in spring, with a colour that is a warm pink, very bright, and only slightly lighter on the periphery. It is a small perennial bulbous plant, but sensitive to cold, which will add 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 Persian buttercup or Asiatic ranunculus, 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 given rise to numerous cultivars through hybridization, which are grouped under the name Ranunculus (x) hybrida. The Vortex F1 Hot Pink Ranunculus 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 numerous large, fully cupped flowers with translucent petals. These flowers measure from 3 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) in diameter, with their center filled with small petals resembling a whirlwind, which inspired the name of this hybrid series 'Vortex'.

Its foliage grows in a rosette. The basal leaves measure from 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6in) long. They are pale to dark green, divided into three deep lobes. At maturity, this Asian ranunculus 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 in vascular bundles, which are sometimes called "claws".

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