Eranthis hyemalis
Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) is a perennial. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about €9.20.
One of the very first flowers of the year: golden yellow cups on a green leafy ruff, barely a hand high, open in February and March, often through snow. It belongs under deciduous trees and shrubs, where it gets sun in spring and shade in summer, in humus-rich, well-drained soil that never dries out completely. Plant the tiny tubers in late summer or early autumn, 5 to 8 cm deep and 8 cm apart, after soaking them overnight, because dried-out tubers often fail; moving plants in the green, right after flowering, is more reliable. Where it is happy and left undisturbed it seeds around and slowly forms carpets, and the leaves die back on their own by late spring, so leave them alone until then. The Cilician winter aconite, which many now include in this species, is grown the same way.
| Group | Perennial |
| Light | Full sun, Part shade |
| Size after 10 years | 10 cm × 10 cm |
| Ultimate size | 8–15 cm × 8–15 cm |
| Hardiness | down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7) |
| Soil | Average garden soil, Calcareous |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Flowering | February–March, yellow |
| Water need | Medium |
| Drought tolerance | Low |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Root aggressiveness | Low |
| Suckering | no data |
| Spreading | Medium |
| Distance from buildings | no data |
| Distance from paving | no data |
| Litter | not typical |
| Planting distance | 8 cm |
| For dogs | Toxic (uncertain) |
| For cats | Toxic (uncertain) |
| For children | Toxic |
| Typical price | from about €9.20 |
Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.
The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.
|
Size
|
Typical price
|
|---|---|
| size not stated | approx. €9.20 |
Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made
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