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Eranthis hyemalis

winter aconite

AGM plants

AGM plants have been through a rigorous trial and assessment programme. They are:

  • Excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions
  • Available to buy
  • Of good constitution
  • Essentially stable in form & colour
  • Reasonably resistant to pests & diseases
RHS Plant Shop from £4.99 Sold by 27 nurseries

  • Other common names winter aconite
    winter hellebore

    winter wolf's bane

    see more

  • Synonyms Aconitum hyemale

  • Family Ranunculaceae

  • Genus Eranthis are small tuberous perennials with palmately or pinnately lobed basal leaves and cup-shaped flowers held above a collar of deeply lobed stem leaves

  • Details E. hyemalis is a perennial to 10cm in height, with cup-shaped bright yellow flowers 3cm in width from late winter, surrounded by divided leafy bracts. Basal leaves are rich green, divided into several lobes

  • Plant range W Europe

Characteristics

  • Foliage Deciduous

  • Habit Columnar/Upright

  • Toxicity Ingestion may cause mild stomach upset, contact may irritate skin

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H6

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Partial Shade

  • Aspect South-facing or East-facing or North-facing or West-facing

  • Exposure Exposed or Sheltered

Soil

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Loam

    Loam

  • Sand

    Sand

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained

  • SoilChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height Up to 10 cm

  • Ultimate spread 0-0.1 metre

  • Time to ultimate height 2-5 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow in a humus-rich, moderately fertile soil that doesn?t dry out. Tolerates most soil types but does best in alkaline soils

Propagation Propagate by seed, sown in pots in a cold frame in late spring or separate tubers in late spring after flowering. Dry tubers may not establish well

Suggested planting locations and garden types Underplanting of Roses and Shrubs Flower borders and beds Ground Cover Cottage & Informal Garden

How to care

Pruning No pruning required

Pests Generally pest free

Diseases May be affected by a smut

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Eranthis hyemalis

winter aconite

Buy from £4.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

Buy from £4.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

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