Eranthis hyemalis
Eranthis hyemalis
(air-AN-thiss hye-em-AY-liss)
syn. Aconitum hyemale
Family: Ranunculaceae
Common name: winter aconite; winter hellebore
Zone: 4 – 9
Height: 4 – 6 in (10 – 15 cm)
Spread: 4 in (10 cm)
Aspect: sun; partial shade
Soil: fertile, humus-rich; well-draining
Water: moderate
Description: A spring-flowering, low growing, herbaceous, tuberous perennial. Rich green-coloured, palmately lobed basal leaves form a rosette on top of the soil. Each upright stem supports a bright yellow, cupped flower cradled on a collar of deeply lobed stem leaves. Flowers have a sweet, honey scent. It is a spring ephermeral…with leaves emerging in late January, setting flowers with seed pods following. The whole process taking a mere two to three months before the plant disappears below ground again to rebuild its strength for a beautiful floral display again the following winter.
Special Notes: Native to southern Europe from Italy to Bulgaria, and including Turkey. Has naturalized outside of its native boundaries. Introduced into English gardens around 1596, it has since spread to establish naturalized colonies in the wild in that country.
Eranthis hyemalis is a winter hardy understory plant, preferring placement under deciduous trees whose bare branches allow sunlight to reach the ground throughout the winter months.
This plant is non-aggressive…it does not run rampant through the garden. Indeed, many gardeners bemoan the fact their golden patch of winter aconites does not increase. Propagation is by fresh seed…either by allowing the plants to form seed pods and self-scatter, or buying very fresh seed from a reliable source and immediately sowing them. Germination time is long, and needs winter stratification temperatures to break dormancy. Cleaning up the garden bed or walking on the soil are two main reasons why Eranthis spp. are difficult to grow.
If you have already established a patch of Eranthis in your garden, you can start a patch in another area of the landscape by carefully digging up a few plants…after flowering but before the green leaves disappear underground. Be sure to provide some compost as this genus loves humus.
If you purchase tubers from a nursery, buy as fresh as you can. Dried out tubers usually do not produce plants…although some gardeners have had limited success by soaking dried tubers before planting.
Deer, rabbit, and squirrel resistant. Not many disease problems, although smut…black spots appearing on leaves, caused by a fungus in the genus Urocystis…can be devastating. It is best to carefully dig up the infected plant and place it in the garbage…before the black spores are released to infect other plants in the colony.
In our zone 7a garden: We started our patch of Eranthis hyemalis sometime around 2006 or 2007 from fresh seed gathered from a neighbour’s plants. The seeds were immediately sown underneath the Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’ where they flourished and multiplied to become a delightful patch. (Sadly, the viburnum had to be removed due to a serious infestation of viburnum leaf beetles. A native Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Monlo’ Diablo® has been planted in its place.)
I am very fond of the bright little winter aconite flowers as they are a ray of sunshine bursting forth in the dead of winter…instilling hope that spring is finally on its way.
Caution: All parts of the plant are poisonous…the toxic compounds of note are cardiac glycosides. These are not as toxic as those toxins found in Aconitum spp. but still to be avoided ingesting.
RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993; Great Plant Pick 2012
Posted on February 11, 2017; updated on February 24, 2025
Carex ‘Silver Sceptre’
Carex ‘Silver Sceptre’ Family: Cyperaceae
(KARE-eks mor-OH-ee-eye)
Common name: Japanese sedge
Zone: 5 – 9
Height: 8 – 12 in (20 – 30 cm)
Spread: 12 – 24 in (30 – 60 cm)
Aspect: full sun; partial to full shade
Soil: average; well-draining
Water: moderate
Description: A short, evergreen, perennial grass with a clump-forming, slow-spreading rhizamous habit. White margins brighten the narrow (0.25 inch / 6.4 mm) green leaves. Insignificant greenish-brown flowers on triangular stems appear in mid-spring.
Special Notes: This grass has a preference for partial to full shade, although it will tolerate full sun if watered regularly. Given shade, it is drought tolerant once established. Evergreen in the warmer regions of its range but semi-evergreen in the cooler regions, and may go dormant in Zone 5 and lower.
In spring, cut back to 2 or 3 inches (5-7.6 cm) before fresh new growth appears. Spreads slowly to form dense, arching clumps. Drought tolerant. Deer resistant.
This cool season grass cultivar was presented by Dr. Masato Yokoi, Japanese variegated plant specialist, to the English grass collector, Roger Grounds. Plants Delight Nursery of North Carolina introduced ‘Silver Sceptre’ to North America in 1999. It is often labeled as Carex morrowii ‘Silver Sceptre’ but its connection to this particular species of Carex has not been confirmed.
In our Zone 7a garden: ‘Silver Sceptre’ is evergreen in our garden and looks lovely in the shady side of my front border under the towering chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) and silver leaf maple (Acer saacharinum) trees, providing bright spots of tumbling variegated strap-like leafy clumps.
Posted on August 17, 2012; updated on October 16, 2024
Asarum caudatum
Asarum caudatum Family: Aristolochiaceae
(ah-SAR-um kaw-DAH-tum)
Common name: British Columbia wild ginger; western
wild ginger; long-tailed wild ginger
Zone: 3 – 8
Height: 5-8 in (12-20 cm)
Spread: 12-18 in (60-75 cm)
Aspect: partial shade; full shade
Soil: moderately fertile; well-draining
Water: moderate
Description: A semi-evergreen perennial with a slowly spreading, ground-covering habit. Kidney-shaped, medium green, glossy leaves show their distinctive veining. Leaf stems are covered in very fine, soft hairs. Cup-shaped, brownish-purple flowers appear in mid-spring. Very distinctive with their petals terminating in long, graceful tails. Look for them laying atop the soil, hidden under the leaves.
Special Notes: Native to the Pacific Northwest. Great ground-cover plant but is slow to establish. Will tolerate some sun. Foliage and roots have a spicy ginger and citrus fragrance when crushed. Relatively pest- and disease-free. Slugs and snails may be a problem in early spring. Deer and rabbit resistant. Propagate by fresh seed; divide in early spring or autumn. Will self-sow.
Great Plant Pick 2006
Posted on April 19, 2013; updated on August 7, 2024
Asarum europeaum
Asarum europaeum
(ah-SAR-um yur-oh-PAY-um)
Family: Aristolochiaceae
Common name: European wild ginger; hazelwort; wild
spikenard; asarabacca
Zone: 3 – 8
Height: 3-6 in (7-15 cm)
Spread: 12-18 in (30-45 cm)
Aspect: partial shade; full shade
Soil: moderately fertile; well-draining
Water: moderate
Description: An evergreen perennial with a slowly spreading, ground-covering habit. Rounded, kidney-shaped, bright green, glossy leaves show their distinctive veining. Leaf stems are covered in very fine, soft hairs. Bell-shaped, brownish-dull purple flowers appear in mid-spring. Look for them laying atop the soil, hidden under the leaves.
Special Notes: Native to Europe. This is a wonderful ground-cover plant but is slow to establish. Be patient. Roots are sometimes harvested for use as a spice or flavouring. Long ago the crushed leaves were used in snuff. Relatively pest- and disease-free. Rust and leaf gall may be a problem in some climates. Deer and rabbit resistant. Propagate by fresh seed; divide in early spring or autumn. Will self-sow.
RHS Award of Garden Merit 2007; Great Plant Pick 2011
Posted on April 18, 2013; updated on August 7, 2024
Ajuga reptans BLACK SCALLOP
Ajuga reptans BLACK SCALLOP
(ah-JEW-gah REP-tanz)
syn. Ajuga reptans ‘Binblasca’ PBR
Family: Lamiaceae
Common name: bugleweed; carpet bugleweed
Zone: 4 – 9
Height: 3 – 6 in (7.5 – 15 cm)
Spread: 6 – 24 in (15 – 60 cm)
Aspect: sun; partial shade
Soil: fertile; well-draining
Water: moderate
Description: An evergreen groundcover with glossy, dark maroon-purple to almost black, scalloped-edged leaves and a dense habit. Short, upright, spikes of dark violet, fragrant flowers four to six inches tall (10 – 15 cm) appear in mid- to late spring.
Special Notes: The genus Ajuga is native to Europe. BLACK SCALLOP is a mutation of Ajuga reptans ‘Braunherz’, discovered in an in-vitro nursery laboratory in 1998 and subsequently isolated to be developed and introduced as a new cultivar, Ajuga reptans ‘Binblasco’ PBR. U.S. Plant Patent was issued in June 2005. (PBR – Plant Breeder Registration)
BLACK SCALLOP tends to have a more compact habit than some of the other Ajuga cultivars. Plant where it will get more sun for deep, rich foliage colour but plants will require watering more often. In hotter climates, give it a little more shade from the sun.
Propagate by cutting the stolon, or plantlet, growing out from the mother plant to start a new plant. BLACK SCALLOP does not come true from seed.
Crown rot can be a problem if ajugas are allowed to grow too densely. Divide clumps every few years to thin the planting out. Aphids, slugs, snails and whiteflies can also be occasionally problematic. And while it is not unheard of for cucumber mosaic virus and tobacco mosaic virus to attack ajugas, there have been no reports of these viruses found on BLACK SCALLOP. However, remove the plants if you see these viruses and bag them for the garbage.
In our Zone 7a garden: We now have a few patches of BLACK SCALLOP in our landscape and we love them! Absolutely the best-behaved ajuga to plant in your garden for its dark leaves and dark violet flowers.
Posted on February 3, 2021; updated on August 6, 2024
