Ranunculus hybrida Vortex F1 White - Persian Buttercup

The Vortex F1 White florist's buttercup is part of a series of very recent hybrids selected for their compact habit, well-branched growth, and intense and vibrant colours. This White variety, as its name suggests, offers extremely double flowers in spring, pure white in colour with barely a hint of a black centre. It is a small perennial bulbous plant, but sensitive to cold, which will add a sparkling touch to perennial beds and make charming flowering pots. Not content with their appearance, these very coquettish flowers also last 3 weeks in a vase. It can be grown in partial shade or full sun, in cool and humus-rich soil.

The Asian buttercup, Ranunculus asiaticus, also known as 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 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 White 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 bears numerous large, fully cupped flowers with white and 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 perennial, consisting of several small elongated tubers, grouped together in a vascular bundle, sometimes called "claw".

The Vortex F1 White buttercup can be grown in flower beds, borders, rockeries, and even in pots on a terrace. It is a highly ornamental plant 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 forms in all colours. By lifting the tubers in autumn to store them before the frost, this plant can be grown like a gladiolus.