Summer Pheasant's Eye Adonis aestivalis
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Adonis ambigua
- Adonis maculata
- Adonis miniata
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-DON-iss ae-stih-VAH-lis
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Pheasant's Eye is an annual which originated in the Mediterranean Basin and western Asia. In some locations, it grows as a herbaceous perennial. The name Pheasant's Eye refers to the likeness between the colors of its flowers to the red eye of a pheasant. The genus Adonis is a member of the Ranunculaceae or buttercup family. According to Greek mythology, Adonis was a handsome young man who was loved by Aphrodite. He was killed by a wild boar. His blood is said to produce the red flowers of this species. Aestivalis is Latin and translated means "of the summer."
Pheasant's Eye was brought to the US as a horticultural plant but escaped cultivation. It has become invasive in the western US and has become a weed of pastures and roadsides. The plant is tap rooted with erect, columnar, branched, and leafy stems averaging 8-24 inches tall. The typical plant width is 6 to 12 inches.
The flowers are small and buttercup-like ranging in color from red purple, scarlet red, orange, or yellow. The flower has a dark purple blotch in the center of most species as well as dark purple anthers and stamens. The leaves are soft green, feathery, and fern-like. Pheasant's Eye blooms from May to July.
Seeds may germinate immediately after shedding or wait until the following spring. If seeds are sown, they should be planted a depth of 1/16 inch or surface sow and spaced 8 to 12 inches apart. The species has both male and female organs. It can be pollinated by bees, flies, and beetles.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Aphids may attack flowers. The plant is poisonous to humans, horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs if ingested. Plant may be damaged by slugs. Small plants may need support in windy areas.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Adonis
- Species:
- aestivalis
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mediterranean Basin and western Asia
- Distribution:
- CA, CO, ID, MO, OR, UT, WA
- Wildlife Value:
- The flowers are pollinated by bees, flies and beetles.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- After the flower fades in the summer, an erect, elongated cluster of green cone shaped seed pods are produced. The oblong spike has about 10-15 achenes. One plant can produce 114 seeds.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The small solitary flower emerges on the stem with buttercup-like waxy petals in colors of bright red-purple, scarlet, orange or yellow. Some species have a dark purple basal blotch in the center. The flower has purple-black colored anthers.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Pinnatifid
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The feathery-like simple leaves are alternate and divided pinnately 2-3 times which dissect into linear segments giving a feathery-like appearance. They resemble fern or fennel leaves.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The sparsely branched stem is light green, erect and grooved. It is 8 to 24" tall.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Horses
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Poisonous if ingested (all parts are poisonous). CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. Symptoms include nausea and vomiting.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Digitalis-like glycoside and possibly protoanemonin
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
