Eranthis

( eer - ANTH - iss )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Winter Aconite, this genus is comprised of flowering perennial plants that grow from underground tuber roots and need full sun during their blooming period, but partial shade the rest of the year for best performance and foliage health. Winter Aconites require regular waterings during growth and blooming periods. Flowers emerge in winter and springtime, and leaves are green, formed soon after flowers open. Once summer rolls around, these flowers will have died back to the ground. Grow these happy yellow flowers in rock gardens, mixed beds and borders, or in woodland landscapes, where they can blanket the ground with color in late winter and spring. Take care when planting Winter Aconite in your garden, as plant parts are poisonous to both humans and pets if ingested.

Eranthis species and varietals

The genus Eranthis is a member of the plant family Ranunculaceae and includes eight species. ​These plants grow best in USDA hardiness zones 4-9 or Sunset growing zones 1-9 and 14-17. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Eranthis cilicica (Winter Aconite)
This species blooms a bit later than others in the genus, has flowers that are a bit larger than Eranthis hyemalis. Young leaves are flushed with bronze. Plant these flowers under trees, as a no-traffic groundcover, or in rock gardens. These plants reach up to 3-6 inches tall when mature and in bloom, and are native to Türkiye and southeastern Europe.

Eranthis hyemalis (Helleborus hyemalis, Aconitum hyemale) (Winter Aconite, Winter Hellebore, Winter Wolf's Bane)
​Native to Europe and Asia, this species reaches between 2 and 8 inches tall and produces yellow flowers in late winter through early springtime. Flowers bloom before leaves emerge. Cultivars include 'Orange Glow' (with deep yellow flowers that are larger than those of the straight species), 'Flore Pleno' (with large, double flowers), 'Scwevelglanz' (with pale creamy-yellow flowers), and 'Noel Ayres' (with double green-yellow blooms).

Caring for Eranthis

Take care when planting Winter Aconite in your garden, as plant parts are poisonous to both humans and pets if ingested. Tubers should be planted in late summer about 3 inches deep and 4 inches apart for best coverage and airflow. They are naturally woodland plants, and prefer a spot in the garden that mimics these conditions. Winter Aconite grows best in a spot that receives full sun to partial shade. They prefer moist, porous soil that drains well and is moderately fertile with a pH of between 6.0 and 8.0. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system. Mature plants also appreciate consistently moist soils, especially during late winter and early springtime when they are producing leaves and flowers. Watering should be lessened in summertime when plants are dormant, but soil should not be allowed to dry out completely.

Each year in springtime, apply a 2-inch layer of organic compost around the planting area to improve soil structure, drainage, and nutrient load. This feeding should be sufficient to provide these flowers with enough nutrients to get through their growth and flowering seasons. Pruning is not necessary for Winter Aconite; once leaves die back, if they are unsightly, they can be removed. Do not remove foliage before it dies back; the photosynthetic material is necessary to gather energy for the underground root system to produce next year's flowers and foliage. Clumps will need to be divided if they outgrow their space or if Winter Aconite is grown in a container. The best time to divide Winter Aconite is after flowers fade. When dividing, separate into smaller clumps rather than separating single tubers for the best results. Eranthis plants can last for many years and naturalize in the right conditions, providing new plants indefinitely in the landscape.

Propagation

Eranthis can be propagated either by division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Winter Aconite plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Eranthis by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination takes between a month and a year from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Eranthis by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil, compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
  1. Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the tuberous root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
  2. Start to tease apart the roots with your fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached. When dividing, separate into smaller clumps rather than separating single tubers for the best results.
  3. Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
  4. Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.
Eranthis seeds are held in the receptacle of these flowers, which open up when they are mature.
Eranthis seeds are light brown to tan in color, and relatively round.

Problems and Pests

Although these spring bulbs are relatively pest and disease free landscape plants, they can have issues from time to time with the following:
  • Aphids
  • Spider Mites
  • Slugs and Snails
  • Fungal Diseases
For more information on these pests and diseases, including how to treat and prevent them, consult the following pages:
​

Gallery

Eranthis is commonly planted alongside Snowdraps for a springtime flower show.
These plants slowly form clumps via underground tuber roots that increase in size over time, and also reseed freely.
The yellow blooms of Winter Aconite are a good sign that winter is almost over and spring is on the way.
Winter Aconite is able to grow in climates that get snowfall.
Winter Aconite is a great choice to provide early-season sustenance for pollinators.
The foliage of these plants remains after flowers fade, and lasts until late spring into early summer.

Videos

Learn about these small but mighty flowers.
How to plant Winter Aconite in the landscape.
All about these spring bulbs.
How to grow and propagate Winter Aconite plants.

Resources

Forget Snowdrops: These are the Best Early Spring Flowers to Bring Sunny Colour to Your Garden
Learn About the Care of Winter Aconite Plants
How to Grow Winter Aconites
Wikipedia: Eranthis
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 303. Eranthis hyemalis