Eranthis hyemalis
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Helleborus hyemalis
- Phonetic Spelling
- er-AN-thiss hy-eh-MAY-liss
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Winter aconite is a low maintenance perennial tuber native to Europe in the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family. Its showy bright yellow butter-cup blooms appear in late winter to very early spring and excellent for long, winter blooming display. The name comes from the Greek 'helein'= to injure and 'bora'= food.
When it blooms in the late winter to early spring it requires full sun and as the weather warms up it prefers partial to full shade. Planting it under deciduous trees provides this type of shade change as the seasons progress. The soil must be rich in organic material, neutral pH, and well drained. This bulb is intolerant of bright winter sun and high temperatures. Plant tubers 1 in. apart, 60-100 per sq. ft., burying it 5 in. to the base of the tuber. This plant is injured below 5 degrees F (-15 degrees C). It tolerates drought, but make sure to keep the soil moist during the growing season. To propagate this plant direct sow seeds in the fall or wait until it is done flowering and divide the clumps.
Numerous hybrid selections and species are available but are often difficult to distinguish and are misidentified in trade, or mislabeled lenten rose, a name historically associated with H. orientalis.
This delightful yellow flower will add a splash of color rock gardens, beds, and woodland gardens. Utilize it for borders or patios in protected, shady locations or let it naturalize in the landscape. It is resistant to browsing by deer and can be planted near a black walnut tree.
Quick ID Hints:
- Flowers nodding, petaloid sepals
- Short plant with stiff, large, evergreen leaves
- Leaves are palmately divided into many leaflets
- Flower center of numerous stamens outlined by tubular nectaries, or fleshy, beaked capsules
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Fungal diseases are occasional problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Eranthis
- Species:
- hyemalis
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia Minor and Europe
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees are attracted to the nectar and pollen in the flowers.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 5 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 5 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Clustered, green, fleshy capsules, long-beaked, surrounded by persistent sepals.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Blooms in late winter to early spring, on 3 to 4 inch tall stalks from February to March. A stalked cyme or panicle, terminal, often nodding. The green bracts form a collar surrounding the flowers are gigantic, leaf-like, dark green, entire to sparsely toothed, +/- lobed. 3-4" diameter; 6 petals, showy, pigmented, broadly ovate-elliptic; inner petal segments numerous, consisting of tubular nectaries, green to greenish-yellow, ephemeral; stamens numerous, anther yellow.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Basal or cauline, palmately compound, coriaceous, glabrous. The petioles that flank the flowers look like leaves are elongate, peltate; leaflets 3-9, irregularly toothed or serrate.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stout, rhizomatous or exposed red brown erect.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Rock Wall
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Drought
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, disturbed vision, shortness of breath, irregular pulse, and potential cardiac arrest.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cardiac glycosides of the bufadienolide group
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
