January 2005
Eranthis and Galanthus

(Pictured: Eranthus hyemalis with Ilex Reticulata)

Eranthus
Winter Aconite
Family: Ranunculacea
The lemon to rich yellow buttercup like flowers and frilly green leaves can be expected as early as February in the garden. This plant needs to be planted in the fall as a bulb . It is best if you soak the tubers before they are planted . Plants prefer a rich humus soil with plenty of moisture where they reseed if seeds are raked into the soil. This plant is ideally planted under trees and shrubs where it is best left undisturbed to form large drifts growing to a height of 3 to 4 inches. This plant is hardy through all of Ohio and will live in zone 4 through 7.

Galanthus
Snowdrops
Family: Amaryllidaceae
This forerunner of spring can even appear through late winter snows with fragrant, bell-shaped pendulous flowers that are a clear white with emerald-green markings. The plant produces small mounds of long , narrow glaucous, upright foliage that surrounds the flowers. Use as naturalizers in borders, rock gardens, woodlands and shady areas. Plants are adaptable to most garden soils. Several forms are available in heights from 4 to 10 inches depending on species and should be planted in clusters as bulbs in autumn. Galanthus are hardy from zone 2 through zone 9.

Randy Zondag, OSU Extension Horticulture Agent, Lake County
Photos Courtesy Bill Hendricks, Klyn Nurseries, Inc., Perry OH