winter aconite eranthis hyemalis
These bright yellow flowers poke through the soil just when it seems that winter will never end. Even though they look fragile, they’ll tolerate freezing temperatures and snow without trouble. Plant winter aconite tubers in early autumn in alkaline soil. A shady lawn or under shrubs where they can reseed and naturalize is ideal. You can even plant them in perennial or annual borders. The extra water in summer won’t hurt the winter aconite tubers.
Before you plant the tubers, soak them in warm water for 24 hours. They’ll plump up and send out roots faster after you’ve planted them. Winter aconite tubers don’t have an obvious top, but don’t worry about it. Just drop them in the hole and they’ll be fine. Just like grape hyacinth, winter aconite looks best when planted in masses.
TYPE Bulb SIZE 3 to 4 inches tall BLOOM Late winter LIGHT Part shade to shade SOIL Alkaline, moist, well-drained PESTS None serious HARDINESS Cold: USDA zones 4 to 7 Heat: AHS zones 7 to 1
