Is Winter Aconite Poisonous to Touch? A Gardener’s Safety Guide

November 17, 2024 by Robby

I went to college to study horticultural sciences, and in my free time I like to grow anything with roots on my own land. I am particularly passionate about self-sufficiency and seasonal food. Favourite fruit: quince, cornelian cherry and blueberries Favourite vegetables: peas, tomatoes and garlic.

One of the first plants to bloom in our gardens, parks, and forests after winter is winter aconite. Here you can find out everything about planting, caring for and propagating this spring-flowering perennial.

This plant, winter aconite, brings bright yellow flowers to gardens in the winter, making them more interesting. It also marks the start of spring on the phenological calendar. This article talks about some of the different kinds of winter aconite and how to plant and take care of this early-blooming perennial.

Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) is one of the earliest bloomers come spring carpeting gardens with its bright yellow blossoms. While cheery, this perennial does require caution when handling due to its toxic properties especially the tubers and foliage. For gardeners like myself who value safety, it’s crucial to understand the risks of this plant before adding it to your landscape.

In this article, I’ll cover key facts about winter aconite’s toxicity, which parts are poisonous, symptoms of exposure, and most importantly, safe handling precautions to prevent contact. My goal is to educate fellow gardeners so you can make informed choices when planting winter aconite and enjoy its beauty safely.

Is Winter Aconite Toxic to Touch?

Winter aconite contains toxic alkaloids and glycosides that make it poisonous if ingested. Direct contact with the foliage and tubers can also cause skin irritation in some individuals due to the plant’s toxin and sap content. Therefore, yes winter aconite can be dangerous to touch without protection.

The entire plant contains toxins – the leaves flowers, stems and especially the underground tubers. Handling any part has risks. Typical symptoms from touching winter aconite include

Red, itchy rash
Blistering or burning skin

Swelling and inflammation
Hives or welts

Reactions can vary based on level of exposure and individual sensitivity The sap seems to cause the most pronounced skin irritation in susceptible people,

Tips for Safe Handling of Winter Aconite

While winter aconite requires cautious handling, with proper precautions you can still enjoy this early bloomer safely:

Wear gloves, long sleeves and pants when working with winter aconite.
Wash exposed skin immediately if contact occurs.

Take care to avoid sap contact, which can cause rashes for some.
Keep children and pets away from the plant.
Remove spent flowers to deter curiosity.

Dig tubers carefully to avoid breaking them and releasing toxins.
Label winter aconite if included in flower arrangements.
Discard dead foliage rather than composting.

Growing Winter Aconite Safely

When planting winter aconite, choose spot carefully to discourage contact. Keep away from areas frequented by children and pets.

Site winter aconite near walkways or patios where they can be appreciated but not easily reached. Avoid planting near playgrounds, playsets or sandboxes where curious little fingers may be tempted to explore.

Spaced 12-15 inches apart, winter aconite forms dramatic mass plantings. Allow ample room to access plants safely for maintenance. Mark locations clearly to avoid accidental disturbance.

Enjoying Winter Aconite Cautiously

While winter aconite needs vigilant handling, its appeal in early spring gardens may outweigh the risks for some gardeners. Just be sure to educate yourself on its toxicity and implement safety precautions when planting, maintaining or arranging this flower. Teach children to look but not touch. With prudence, we can delight in winter aconite’s bright blooms without harm.

winter aconite poisonous to touch

Eranthis species and varieties

Here are some of the most beautiful species and varieties of Eranthis plants:

When it comes to winter aconite, Eranthis hyemalis is the most common species in our gardens. It is native to Southern Europe. It gets 5 to 10 cm tall and flowers as early as February. The flowers are pale yellow and have bracts that are close together. The cultivar Eranthis hyemalis ‘Schwefelglanz’ has pale yellow flowers. Eranthis hyemalis ‘Noël Ayres,’ on the other hand, has two green and yellow flowers that are not fertile. “Winterzauber,” a golden-yellow flowering variety whose name means “winter magic,” starts blooming as early as December or January. It is one of the earliest flowering varieties.
This type of winter aconite grows to be 5 to 10 cm tall, has a leaf crown with finely divided leaves, and a bronze stem. The yellow flowers start to bloom in March and are bigger than the E hyemalis.
Eranthis x tubergenii: Sterile hybrid between E. hyemalis and E. cilicica that can only be propagated by division. The winter aconite types “Glory” and “Guinea Gold” have hairy leaves that are a bronze color and yellow flowers.

This winter aconite that blooms in white is found in Japan and grows to be 5 to 15 cm tall. This species’ flowers are white with blue-violet stamens. The leaves are long and deeply lobed. Native to eastern Siberia, E. . sibirica is another species with white flowers. Its flower stems are 10 to 15 cm long and have big white flowers with light green stigmas. That being said, it can be hard to get both types of white eranthis.

winter aconite poisonous to touch

Planting winter aconite: where, when and how

There are a lot of winter aconite plants near the edges of forests and woodlands. They like to live under trees and other plants that are made of wood. Their seeds can quickly spread over a wide area, forming a beautiful carpet of flowers. These plants prefer sunny to semi-shaded areas with fresh, well-drained and moderately fertile soil. Slightly alkaline, not too heavy loamy soils are ideal.

Winter aconite that is grown in pots needs a lot of water because the soil dries out faster in pots than in the ground. Place the potted Eranthis plants somewhere cool in winter, but protect them from frost. When the first shoots show up at the end of winter, you can put them back outside. Our Plantura Organic Flower Compost is perfect for growing winter aconite because it is loose and full of all the nutrients plants need. You can mix some clay such as bentonite into the soil to increase its water storage capacity.

winter aconite poisonous to touch

Perfect for all flowering plants in garden beds & pots

For beautiful blossoms & healthy plant growth
Peat-free & organic soil: CO2-saving composition

Dr Joe Schwarcz talks about the poison aconite

FAQ

Is winter aconite poisonous to humans?

If you have small children or pets that are likely to dig in the garden you may not want winter aconite in your yard as the entire plant, but especially the tuber, is quite poisonous and may cause nausea, vomiting, colic attacks and visual disturbances. Flowers appear very early in the spring.

How do you get rid of winter aconite?

Expert Response. When researching your question, I found several websites with information about growing winter aconite but very little about killing it. Digging it is the preferred method of control, but, as you said, you must lift the entire clump and remove all of the tubers.

Does winter aconite spread?

Each leaf is narrow and divided into several finger-shaped lobes. During the summer, the plant goes dormant and the foliage completely dies back. Winter aconite is a good plant to cover a sloping landscape since in reproduces easily by self-seeding and spreads rapidly. In the right conditions, it’s almost invasive.

Is winter aconite wolfsbane?

Winter Aconite, also known as “Eranthis Hyemalis”. “Winter Wolf’s Bane”, or “Bulb Me Up Buttercup”, is one of the earliest flowers of the year to bloom. Do you want to grow your own Winter Aconites? Read this blog post to learn how to plant and care for them.

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