Free delivery on orders over £85
Posting plants since 1994
No Quibble GuaranteeHow to grow Eranthis
Eranthis create breath-taking carpets of bright yellow blooms in late winter and spring. Small compact and tuberous, this perennial displays bright, buttercup-like blooms surrounded by a mass of lush, green foliage.
A native European woodland plant, producing an efficient, pretty layer of weed-suppressing ground cover. Eranthis are wonderful when planted in flower borders, under-planting within a cottage or informal garden setting or tumbling over the edges of containers or over walls. Happy to naturalise in grass, Eranthis will reach an approximate height and spread of 5-8cm and hungry, winter active bees will come searching for a feast.
Key Information
Soil pH
Position
Hardiness
Where & when to plant Eranthis
Eranthis are best planted in autumn, in moist, well-drained, humus rich and moderately fertile soil in a partly shaded spot. Although they can cope with all soil types, Eranthis actually thrive best in an alkaline based soil type. It is important to note that this plant will self-seed, so lift the tubers periodically to control the spread.
How to plant Eranthis
The small, raisin-like tubers can be soaked for 3 hours in warm water before being planted around 10cm deep, about 5cm apart. Eranthis do not like being dry, so if you are on sandy soil, introduce some organic matter or leaf mould when planting.
What to plant with Eranthis
Bring one of the most treasured wildflowers to your garden where it will create stunning drifts of colour.
One of the earliest plants to flower, and probably sharing the honorary title with snowdrops, Eranthis happily grow with other woodland wonders like Epimedium, Hyacinthoides (Bluebells) and Galanthus (Snowdrops) that all like similar shady spots.
Plant in rockeries with some popular alpine plants. Create stunning patio planter displays, or plant at the front of your borders with companions such as Primroses or Iris reticulata. And don’t forget to include some bulbs, we suggest a short Narcissus such as February Gold, a purple crocus like Crocus Spring Beauty or the bright yellow Erythronium Pagoda – just a few ideas for a fantastic display.
How to care for Eranthis
Once these plants are better established, they are easy to care for.
Take care when handling these plants as they are poisonous and if ingested, may cause a mild stomach upset. Wash your hands after handling the corms.
Ensure that you water your plants regularly, especially in periods of dry weather then in summer enrich with a good summer mulch to keep them moist.
After flowering, leave the foliage to die back completely before tidying up. This is also the time to lift the corms and divide the clumps to re-plant in another area.
How to propagate Urginea
Urginea are imposing plants, creating a dramatic statement when planted alone, creating quite an impressive clump when they have naturalised.
However, when grown amongst grasses or interspersed Allium they look incredible.
When choosing companion plants, think about the growing conditions that are preferred by each plant. Maybe grow Urginia maritima with Allium Forelock, Moly or Hair – the almost globe-like spheres of blooms will hover above the foliage but will have faded by the time the Urginea flowers have fully developed so will not detract from the spectacle.
Whether grown in borders or containers, the period when the foliage is absent could be filled with a low growing, evergreen carpet of Delosperma Suntropics Purple, Copper or Red, which become covered with bright almost neon coloured daisy-like flowers from spring until the first frosts.
