Plant/Tree of the Month
March 2006

Winter Aconite or, genus Eranthis

Winter Aconite is a VERY EARLY blooming hardy perennial bulb with yellow 1”-1 _” buttercup shaped flowers on 2”-3” stems. It often thought of as an “Old Timey” plant and while certainly available in the marketplace it may be difficult to locate. As seen above it can sometimes be seen blooming though the snow! It is best used in large naturalizing groups of at least 100. It can be shocking and is always appreciated when the yellow flowers open en-masse on a sunny late February or early March afternoon. Much of the appeal of Winter Aconite is its timing of bloom. If it bloomed in May with many other things it wouldn’t even be noticed much less praised. Scattered in a dark green turf replete with an average smattering of dandelions blooming away the Winter Aconite would be almost invisible. In February and March, blooming all alone, it is both a curiosity and a promise of spring.

The bulbs are small (3-4cm.) and are purchased and planted in the fall to produce late winter/early spring blooms. Once planted, they will bloom year after year with little to no special care. These characteristics make it a crowd pleaser and earn it a high recommendation from the C.O.W. “Green Team”.

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