Thursday, February 17, 2022

Winter Aconite Plant Profile

Winter Aconite Plant Profile

Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) is a spring ephemeral that appears and disappears in the later-winter garden in a matter of days.

It is a member of the buttercup family and is native to southern and eastern Europe. Winter Aconite is also classified as a minor bulb in comparison to the larger and showier daffodils, tulips, and lilies in our gardens. Even though it is quite small, it still packs a punch with its bright-yellow flowers in the bleak winter landscape.

It prefers to grow under deciduous trees such as Oaks and likes rich, humusy soils. It can tolerate wetter locations than most bulbs.

It is a great source of nectar for the first foraging bees of the season. On overcast days, the flowers stay closed, then on clear days they open up to the sun’s warming rays.

In the fall, soak the tubers overnight, then plant them an inch deep. They will emerge several months later and every year after that. It does naturalize and spread a bit. You can dig up and divide them to move them around right after they finish blooming.

There is an invasive look-a-like: Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna). However, that plant blooms later in the season and does not have the Elizabethan collar of foliage at the base of the flower that Winter Aconites do.

This is one tough plant. Winter Aconite doesn’t mind being covered in ice or snow, or being zapped by freezing temperatures.

Winter Aconite: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Video and Editing by Hojung Ryu

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