The biological name for winter aconite is Eranthis, which is a genus belonging to the family Ranunculaceae, also known as the buttercup family. Eranthis has eight species that are all natives of southern Europe and Asia. These flowering plants are herbaceous perennials and grow to a height of 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm).
The flowers are mostly yellow, though in some species they can be white as well, and they bloom in January or in cold winters. These flowers resemble buttercups, and they are embedded within the plants’ glossy green leaves. They open when the sun shines and close in the afternoon. By the end of spring, the flowers of these plants completely die.
A main characteristic of this genus is that the plants grow on the floors of forests, soaking up whatever sunlight is strained and scattered on them after passing through large deciduous trees. They require shade and a small amount of sunlight for growth. In cases where the sunlight stops filtering through and the layer of trees becomes too opaque, the species of this genus whither and die.
Winter aconites have short stalks, each holding between five to eight lemon-yellow sepals, which are produced from the plants’ tuberous roots. Since these plants are ground hugging, some gardeners opt to plant them in rock gardens or near the doors of houses to provide a cheery outlook to a garden in the winter. One of the most common species of this genus is Eranthis hymalis, which is a native of Europe that blossoms the earliest amongst all other species. Another specie is the Eranthis cilicica, which is a native of Turkey. This particular species is much larger than the other species and has leaves in shades of bronze.
All parts of most species of winter aconite have a bitter and sharp taste and are usually poisonous. In Greek and Roman mythology, the plant was put in Theseus’ wine by Medea to poison him. The fact that they taste so bad is helpful in keeping humans and animals, like moles, from ingesting it. One should avoid keeping winter aconite in houses where pets and small children are present due to the danger of poisoning.
In cultivation, the seeds should be planted in August and at the latest by September. Winter aconite generally does not grow more than 8 inches (21 cm) in height and is therefore typically planted in places where there is a need for green borders. These plants are low maintenance and do not require special attention.
These plants grow quickly, and if they are unattended for a long period of time they can invade the entire garden. For better distribution and control, the clumps of winter aconite should be divided every three years. Many people choose to plant these species because they are some of the few plants that blossom in late winter. It can take as long as four winters before the seeds planted will begin to flower, although they will thrive and flourish in wet and fertile soil.