Winter seems to finally be loosening its grip on central Pennsylvania! The landscape is waking up, as evidenced by snowdrops, winter aconite, crocuses, and hellebores brightening up the gardens at the current moment. It won’t be long now until the hyacinths, daffodils, and tulips come out to play! We would be remiss, however, if we didn’t mention some of our earliest-blooming spring bulbs that may still have a few more weeks to show off, depending on the weather.
Eranthis hyemalis (winter aconite)
Emerging from the snow every March (sometimes as early as late-February) are the golden blooms of Eranthis hyemalis, more commonly known as winter aconite. This bulb, native to southern France and Bulgaria, is part of the Ranunculaceae family. It features cup-shaped, upward facing, bright-yellow flowers atop 3- to 4-inch stalks. A collar of leafy bracts accompany each flower. Proceeding the flowers are multi-lobed, rich-green basal leaves.
The rugged plant only reaches 4 to 6 inches in height and width. They are easily grown in rich, well-drained soils in full to partial sun. Under optimum conditions, they can self-seed and naturalize over time to form a colony.
These late-winter bloomers are virtually pest free and can be used as border fronts, in rock gardens, and as masses under trees. They can be planted along paths or walkways or even placed in a container for some late-winter color. They produce both nectar and pollen, making them quite popular amongst early-emerging bees, beetles, and other pollinators.
Winter aconite can be found scattered around the Childhood’s Gate Children’s Garden, Pollinator and Bird Garden, and our Strolling Gardens/Event Lawn beds.
Crocus spp. (crocus)
As winter begins to loosen its grip, among the first flowers to appear at The Arboretum at Penn State are members of the Crocus genus. Scattered across lawns and garden beds, these small but striking plants mark the long-awaited transition from winter to spring. A member of the iris family, about 90 different species make up the genus, originating all over eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, and China. Flowers bloom in many different forms and shapes, including bells, cups, stars, and tubes, all featuring attractive colors.
Crocus vernus is a very popular member of the genus that has produced many common hybrids, including Dutch crocus and spring crocus. Native to the high alpines of Europe, this spring blooming corm features basal, grass-like leaves and white flowers, reaching just half an inch in both height and width.
Found in the Rose and Fragrance Garden (when the chipmunks haven’t eaten them!), Crocus sativus, or saffron crocus, is one of the few fall bloomers of the group, appearing in September and October. Typically growing 4–6 inches tall, the saffron crocus features several upright, purple, cup-like flowers, each with three reddish-orange stigmas extended beyond the petal cup.
These stigmas are used to produce saffron, the world’s most expensive spice, taking stigmas from 75,000 flowers to produce just one pound. They are mostly harvested in southern Europe and the Middle East, with Spain and Iran contributing almost 80% of the world’s production.
Crocus chrysanthus ‘Panda’ is a newer cultivar in the gardens that is often used in our seasonal displays. It gets its name from the blackish-purple blotches that appear on the cup-like creamy white petals, creating a color contrast like that of a panda. At maturity, it reaches 4–6 inches in height and 1–3 inches in width. Crocus chrysanthus, better known as snow crocus, is one of the earliest crocuses to bloom, doing so from late winter to early spring.
One of the most commonly planted at the Arboretum is Crocus minimus ‘Spring Beauty’, which displays a beautiful mix of deep-plum and soft-lavender petals that contrast with its pale-yellow anthers. Grass-like foliage grows alongside the bulbs, appearing narrow and dark-green with a thin silver stripe down the middle. This spring bloomer, standing 3 inches tall with a 1- to 2-inch spread, can be found in the Pollinator and Bird Garden, Strolling Garden, and by the Overlook Pavillion.
Lastly, Crocus tommasinianus ‘Lilac Beauty’ features elegant, soft-lilac flowers that blend into the white heart, contrasting with the bright-orange anthers. This cultivar is a very popular naturalizing choice due to its abundant flowering and self-propagation. They can be found popping up sporadically in the Pollinator and Bird Garden as well as the Event Lawn.
If you’d like to see these ephemeral bulbs yourself at The Arboretum at Penn State, you can find the GPS locations and more information about these blooms on The Arboretum Explorer Tool by searching for the common name, Latin name, or genus. Also, be sure to check out our virtual Spring Bulb Highlights Tour located on the Tours tab in The Arboretum Explorer Tool. You can use these resources as a virtual tour from home or as a navigational guide while on site (just be sure to turn your location services on if in the gardens). More plants and tours will be added in the coming seasons!
