Winter aconites have been grown since the sixteenth century in English Gardens and extend the flowering season of perennials by adding a splashes of colour from January to March, often pushing through the snows of winter.Their name comes from the Greek “er” meaning spring and “anthos” meaning flower and hyemalis which means flowering in the spring.
Winter aconites have upturned yellow cup shaped flowers (¾ - 1 inch or 2 -2.5 cm across) that sit stalkless on a ruff of bright green leaves and they can flower for up to six weeks.
From April onwards the leaves die down and the plant will be dormant and hidden until next winter.
Cultivation
- The knobbly tubers need to be planted 2” (5cm) deep.
- 3-4” (7.5 – 10cm) apart.
- They do best in moist, fertile, well-drained soil.
- Winter aconites grow to 3-4 inches (7.5- 10) high.
- They thrive in partial shade but will grow in sun if they are kept watered.
- They are more vigorous on alkaline soils but they still grow O.K on acid soil but will spread slower.
- Clump-forming
- Fully hardy or Zones 4 – 7.
Winter aconites will naturalise under deciduous trees or hedges and amongst grass.
The best time to divide them is after they have flowered, but generally they dislike being moved and are best left to their own devices.
They associate well with Snowdrops and Hellebores and look good planted with shrubs such as Mahonias and Forsythia
Eranthis x tubergenii Guinea Gold is less particular about its soil and is more vigorous and has delightful fragrant golden yellow blooms with bronzy green foliage, however it is only half-hardy.
Enjoy your Garden!
