Cilician Winter Aconite (Eranthis cilicica) — Bulbs size 4/5
- Regular price
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€28,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€28,95
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Frequently asked questions
Should winter aconite bulbs be soaked before planting? Yes, soaking for 12 to 24 hours in lukewarm water rehydrates the dry tubers and clearly improves establishment.
Where should winter aconite be planted? Plant it in sun or partial shade, ideally at the foot of a deciduous tree, in moist, well-drained soil.
Shipping & packaging
Shipped within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 working days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection so your plant arrives in perfect condition
- Tracking link sent by email as soon as your parcel ships
- Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page
ZEN ARRIVAL GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us promptly at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- We will find the right solution for your situation
- No return needed — we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage in transit, plants severely weakened on arrival, and order preparation errors.
CARE TIPS ON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack your plant immediately and inspect it
- Let it acclimatize for 24-48h in a bright spot out of direct sunlight
- Check the soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting, if needed
- Keep it away from heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe the leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
💛 Golden-yellow cups • ❄️ Flowers from February • 🌱 Small size, 5 to 10 cm • 🐝 Feeds the first bees • ⛅ Sun or partial shade • 🧊 Very hardy • 🔁 Self-seeds and naturalises • 📏 Bulbs size 4/5
The Cilician winter aconite is one of the very first flowers of the year: from February, sometimes from late January, it opens small golden-yellow cups at ground level, set on a ruff of finely cut, bronze-tinged leaves, 5 to 10 cm tall. It is a species native to Turkey and northern Iraq, where it grows in light woodland and on rocky mountain slopes.
Year after year, it self-seeds and forms a golden carpet at the foot of trees, along borders or in a lawn. Among our flower bulbs, it is the only one to flower in yellow from February; for shadier corners, also discover our shade bulb mix.
How many bulbs should you choose?
Winter aconite looks its best planted in numbers, as a carpet: allow 50 to 80 bulbs per square metre, or 10 to 15 bulbs in a 20 cm diameter pot.
- 25 bulbs: about 0.4 m² at the foot of a tree, or two 20 cm pots on a balcony or terrace.
- 50 bulbs: about 0.8 m², for a touch of gold along a border or at the foot of a shrub.
- 100 bulbs: about 1.5 m², for a first yellow carpet under a deciduous tree.
- 200 bulbs: about 3 m², to naturalise a lawn or a light woodland area.
The larger the pack, the lower the price per bulb: the 200 pack works out at less than half the price per bulb of the 25 pack.
Planting & location
The small tubers are planted from September to November, as soon as possible after delivery, for flowers from February to March.
- Preparation: soak the tubers for 12 to 24 hours in lukewarm water before planting; they rehydrate and get off to a much better start.
- Exposure: sun or partial shade; the ideal spot is the foot of a deciduous tree, sunny in late winter and shady in summer.
- Depth: 5 cm, without worrying which way up, as the tubers have no clear tip.
- Spacing: 5 to 8 cm between bulbs in the ground; in pots, they can almost touch.
- Soil type: moist, rich in humus and well drained, even chalky; it dislikes soil that dries out completely in summer.
- Hardiness: down to about -20 °C, like the species in our selection of cold-hardy plants; its flowers withstand frost and snow.
In the first year, flowering may be modest: winter aconite finds its true rhythm from the second spring, once well established.
Watering & care
In the ground, rainfall is enough. In pots, keep the compost slightly moist during flowering, never soggy, and protect the pot from drought in summer.
- Watering: low — at planting, then in pots when the surface of the compost is dry during flowering.
- Fertilizer: unnecessary in the ground; a mulch of fallen leaves or compost in autumn is enough to enrich the soil.
- Spent flowers: leave them in place so the seeds can ripen: this is how the carpet spreads.
- After flowering: let the foliage die back on its own around April or May; it recharges the tubers for the following year.
Avoid hoeing around winter aconites in spring: the seedlings are tiny and easily mistaken for small weeds.
Decorating ideas & plant pairings
Its yellow flowers light up cool corners of the garden and pots in partial shade from late winter, as shown in our guide to plants for a shady balcony.
- For a yellow and white duo in February, plant it with the giant snowdrop — its white bells, 15 to 25 cm tall, flower at the same time, just above the golden carpet.
- For a yellow and purple contrast, pair it with Crocus 'Ruby Giant' — its purple flowers, 8 to 10 cm tall, open in late February at the same height.
- To bring flowers to the same spot from Christmas, plant the Christmas rose 'Christmas Carol' nearby — its large white flowers open from December and keep the aconites company until March.
- For a balcony version, plant 10 to 15 bulbs above some daffodils in a 25 cm pot, following our method for planting bulbs in pots in autumn — the aconite opens the season and Daffodil 'Tête-à-Tête' takes over in March.
At the foot of a deciduous tree, winter aconite makes the most of the February sun before the leaves come out, then rests in the shade all summer.
Verdeia tips
- Plant as soon as they arrive: winter aconite tubers dislike drying out; soak them, then plant them within the next few days.
- Mark the spot: insert a small stake, as the foliage disappears by late spring and the tubers could be damaged when digging.
- Watch the bees: on a mild February day, open winter aconites offer nectar and pollen to the first bees leaving the hive.
Technical specifications
- Botanical name: Eranthis cilicica, sometimes included in Eranthis hyemalis
- Common name: Cilician winter aconite, winter aconite
- Family: Ranunculaceae
- Origin: species native to Turkey and northern Iraq
- Delivery: small dry tubers, size 4/5 (circumference in cm), in packs of 25, 50, 100 or 200
- Height in flower: 5 to 10 cm
- Flowering: February to March, golden-yellow cups
- Planting: September to November, 5 cm deep, after soaking for 12 to 24 hours
- Exposure: sun or partial shade
- Watering: low
- Hardiness: down to about -20 °C
- Soil type: moist, humus-rich, well-drained
- Life cycle: perennial, self-seeds and naturalises
- Bee-friendly: one of the first sources of nectar and pollen for bees
- Care: very easy
- Toxicity: all parts are toxic if ingested by animals and children
- Decorative style: Woodland / Natural garden / Winter garden
Every bulb is unique: the shade of yellow and the flowering date vary naturally with soil, position and climate.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Orders ship within 48 working hours, with tracked delivery in 2 to 5 working days via DPD. Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page. You receive a tracking link as soon as your parcel leaves.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What should I do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.