Eranthis cilicica

Eranthis cilicica, also known as winter aconite, yellow helloborine or winter eranthe, is a small bulbous plant that flowers in late winter or early spring. Its buttercup-like yellow flowers sometimes pierce through the snow as early as the end of January. It brings a burst of sunshine to short winter days. Its bright green, laciniate foliage tinged with bronze forms a collar at the base of the flower. Discreet throughout the rest of the year until it disappears in summer, it would be wise to mark its location in the garden. It should be planted in moist soils, under the cover of deciduous trees and bushes. Alternatively, plant it in pots.

Eranthis cilicica is a spreading perennial bulbous plant that forms a small ground cover. It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family and is native to the Middle East (Turkey, Syria, Afghanistan), where it grows on open slopes in pine forests. The plant reaches a height of 10cm (4in) and spreads up to 20cm (8in) or more under favourable conditions. It flowers from late January to March, depending on the variable climatic conditions from year to year. The bright yellow flowers, with a diameter of 3cm (1in), closely resemble buttercups. They are supported by a short stem emerging from a crown of small, palmate, and lustrous green leaves washed with bronze. The foliage is deciduous. The round and flat bulbs resemble tiny tubers of begonias.

Winter aconite should be planted in an open area on the edge of a flower bed to be able to see it up close. It works well under the cover of deciduous shrubs that flower at the same time, such as fragrant honeysuckle, witch hazel, Rhododendron praecox, and winter honeysuckle. It happily accompanies other small bulbs such as snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils, and wood anemones, as well as perennials like hellebores, winter heathers, and lungworts. It can also be used in container plantings, combined with snowdrops, hyacinths, botanical tulips, and ipheions.

The flowers should not be picked, as it only blooms in the garden. All parts of the plant are toxic if ingested, and the sap can irritate the skin.