Aconites are one of the earliest of our spring flowering bulbs to flower, and as such can sometimes seen blooming in the snow.
Members of the buttercup family, they are very easy to grow in sun or part shade, reaching only 3-5 inches tall.
Blooming time is February and March with bright golden-yellow cup shaped flowers. The flowers consist of showy sepals surrounding small, nectar-producing petals and are borne one per stem.
Their leaves are deeply divided with one dissected leaf just below the flower almost like a frilled collar.
Use aconites in your rock garden, woodland gardens or under deciduous trees. Be sure to plant some close to the house, since their early flowers can be a welcome relief after a long winter.
The plants die down in the late spring and can be overplanted with shallow-rooted annuals, but be careful not to dig them out.
Plant the tubers in late summer or very early fall. It is recommended to soak the tubers overnight before planting them.
They do best in rich well drained soil that remains moist during the summer months, and will often spread freely and naturalize themselves.
