This tiny harbinger of spring is a member of the buttercup family and is native to France, Italy, Yugoslavia, and Bulgaria. Winter Aconite has been in cultivation since the late 16th century in Europe and Britain where it has naturalized extensively. It has been cultivated in America since the 18th century. Philadelphia nurseryman Bernard McMahon listed the Winter Aconite as "Heleborus hyemalis, Winter Helebore or Aconite" in his Catalogue of Hardy Bulbous and Tuberous Rooted Flowering Plants in The American Gardener’s Calender (1806). Winter Aconite is considered deer-resistant.

Typical Blooming Dates: February-April
Growth Type: Bulb
Blossom Color(s): Yellow
Hardiness Zones: 4
Location at Monticello: West Lawn
Planting Conditions: Prefers partial shade