Eranthis hyemalis - Winter Aconite

The Eranthis hyemalis, also known as Winter aconite or winter hellebore, is a delightful hardy and prolific tuberous perennial, which easily naturalises and brightens up the still dormant garden with its small, bright yellow flowers, shining like little suns. The flowers bloom almost at ground level, from February onwards, often piercing through the snow before the foliage appears. Perfect in a natural or slightly wild garden, Winter aconite colonises slopes or the ground beneath deciduous trees or bushes, along pathways or in rockeries. It also allows for charming ephemeral potted displays, to fully enjoy its fragrance.

The Eranthis hyemalis is a plant native to Europe, perfectly adapted to our climates, belonging to the family of ranunculaceae, just like our famous buttercup. This small plant with nodose tubers can be found in particular in France and Belgium, where it has naturalised in clear and humid woodlands. The plant, 10 cm (4in) tall, spreads in carpets that can eventually cover several square metres. The delicately scented flowering takes place in February-March, at the same time as snowdrops. The shape of the flowers, with 6-petal star-shaped cups, resembles that of buttercups; they are solitary and measure 2 to 3 cm (1in) in diameter. They are set on green petaloid sepals resembling a collar of leaves. These flowers open in good weather and close to form a small ball at night or when the sun disappears. The basal foliage is composed of lobed and palmate bright green leaves, carried by short stems. It develops after flowering and disappears at the end of summer.

The Eranthis hyemalis, emerging from the ground when they were almost forgotten, are a beautiful surprise for the winter garden. Easy to grow, hardy, they quickly form colonies without any maintenance, especially in limestone and moist soil, as these plants dislike drought. They self-seed spontaneously, sometimes becoming invasive, which is interesting in a naturalistic garden, to flower a clear woodland or a difficult-to-access slope where you don't know what to plant. They naturally associate with snowdrops, hellebores, crocuses, and daffodils, for example. They can also be planted under witch hazels or winter viburnums (Viburnum x bodnantense), for example.