Winter Aconite
ExplorePlants
Winter Aconite
eranthis hyemalis
Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) is a charming, low-growing perennial herb famous for being one of the earliest heralds of spring. Often emerging while snow still blankets the ground, this resilient plant covers woodland floors in a vibrant carpet of golden-yellow flowers. Native to the damp deciduous forests of Southern Europe, it has become widely naturalized across temperate regions of North America and Europe, appreciated by gardeners for its ability to spread and form dense, cheerful colonies.
Habitat: Found in deciduous woodlands, forest edges, and shaded gardens with moist, well-draining soils.
Appearance
This diminutive plant typically grows between 5 to 15 centimeters tall. It features bright, buttercup-like yellow flowers that sit atop a distinctive collar of deeply lobed, leaf-like green bracts, giving the appearance of a flower wearing a ruff. The flowers are cup-shaped, composed of five to eight showy sepals, and arise from dark, knobby tuberous roots before the true basal leaves fully develop.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRanunculalesFamilyRanunculaceaeGenusEranthis
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Its genus name Eranthis comes from the Greek words 'er', meaning spring, and 'anthos', meaning flower.
The plant goes completely dormant by mid-summer, disappearing entirely underground until the following winter.
Winter Aconite belongs to the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, and shares their characteristic shiny yellow petals.
Special abilities
Ability
Frost Resistance
It can push through frozen soil and snow, utilizing its early seasonal window to photosynthesize before canopy trees block out the sunlight.
Ability
Heliotropic Closure
The flowers dynamically open in response to warm sunlight and close tightly during overcast, rainy, or freezing conditions to protect their pollen.
Ability
Chemical Protection
Produces toxic cardiac glycosides throughout all tissues, rendering it highly unpalatable and safe from foraging deer, rabbits, and rodents.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 5-15 cm
- Lifespan
- 5-20 years
Diet & Feeding
As a photosynthetic plant, it synthesizes its own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide while drawing essential minerals from the soil.
Primary Foods
- Sunlight
- Carbon dioxide
- Water
- Soil nutrients
Ecological connections
mutualism
Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Bombus terrestris
Provides critical, early-season nectar and pollen for queen bumblebees emerging from winter hibernation.
competitor
Common Snowdrop
Galanthus nivalis
Competes directly for light, space, and early-season pollinators in the deciduous understory.
Traits
No trait badges are assigned for this object yet.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Winter Aconite?
The easiest way to identify Winter Aconite is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Winter Aconite?
5-15 cm
How long does Winter Aconite live?
5-20 years
What does Winter Aconite eat?
As a photosynthetic plant, it synthesizes its own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide while drawing essential minerals from the soil.
Where is Winter Aconite usually found?
Found in deciduous woodlands, forest edges, and shaded gardens with moist, well-draining soils.
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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Where to spot
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