Ranunculus 'Vortex Red' (Persian Buttercup) – Spring Bedding (Set of 3 or 6)

Ranunculus asiaticus, the Persian buttercup, opens tightly layered, rose-like flowers in a deep, vibrant red through spring.

Each plant makes a compact clump of finely divided green leaves with the flowers held on straight stems well above them, which is what makes it such a good cut flower: a few stems will hold in a vase for over a week. It is at its best in a sunny, sheltered spot or in light shade, and it does particularly well in a patio container where you can keep the drainage sharp.

Ranunculus is only borderline hardy in Britain, so the tubers are normally grown in pots or lifted and kept somewhere frost free rather than left out through the winter. Give it light, free draining soil, because it rots in damp ground, and let it rest dry once the foliage dies back. Supplied as 1 litre root-balls. All parts are toxic to cats and dogs.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Persian buttercup
• Fully Grown Height and Spread: 30 to 40cm tall and 20 to 30cm across
• Growth Habit: Compact, upright and clump forming
• Perfect For: Patio containers, borders and cutting
• Foliage: Deeply divided, fresh green leaves
• Flowering Time: Spring into early summer
• Planting Position: Full sun or light partial shade, and well suited to patio containers
• Soil Type: Light, fertile and free draining. Never waterlogged
• Hardiness: Borderline hardy. The tubers will not take prolonged frost, particularly in containers
• Maintenance: Water in growth and deadhead to keep the flowers coming. Lift or protect the tubers over winter
• Seasonal Interest: Spring and summer
• Type: Tuberous perennial, grown as spring bedding