Winter Aconite

Our weather forecasters here in the lowlands of western Oregon are saying that Winter is pretty much over - and that of course is music to my ears! That means the wildflower exploration season is starting to roll. A trip to Jenkins Estate supports this notion, so I'll once again be keeping the camera and trail gear handy.

Last Fall, we admired the large colonies of Wild Hardy Cyclamen growing under the old growth conifers, behind the main house. Now, in the third week of February, the Snowdrops and and a web of yellow blossoms got our attention.

Apparently this colorful ground cover is often one of the first to show itself in late Winter or early Spring. I had never seen it before taking the photos below, but to me the leaves resembled our creeping buttercups we see later in Spring. It took a couple of weeks, several emails and calls to the grounds keepers to determine that Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) is the identity of this mystery plant; and it is indeed a member of the Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae).  It is native to southern Europe but has been naturalized in most of the U.S. It grows from tubers and thrives is moist, but sunny areas common under deciduous trees before their leaves appear. Hyemalis means "winter-flowering."

The common name is misleading in that a very different, unrelated plant called Aconite (or Monkshood in our area) shares the same name. This Aconite (Actonium napellus) has a blue flower on stalks and is extremely poisonous!

We found these blooming (3/01/2014) at Jenkins Estate, near the koi ponds behind the main house.

Fully opened flower is about 1.5 inches across.

Leaves are about 2 - 2.5 inches across.

These have been here for a while.