Adonis vernalis aka Spring Adonis

Adonis vernalis is a perennial in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. Its common names include bird's eye and false hellebore. It also goes by great ox-eye and great yellow anemone. It comes from central and southern Europe. Its recorded range also reaches parts of temperate Asia. These include the Caucasus and parts of Siberia. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. In the wild, it grows on sunny, grassy hills. These sites have dry soils rich in lime.

Plants reach about 1 foot (0.3 metres) tall and wide. This small size suits beds where low plants have space. PFAF records flowering in March, followed by seed ripening from May to June. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees, flies, and beetles pollinate the flowers. The plant can also set seed through self-fertilisation. Gardeners grow it for its ornamental value.

Give it soil that drains well and avoids lasting wetness. PFAF reports success in both dry and moist ground. It accepts sand, loam, and clay, though heavy soil is less suitable. It tolerates mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline conditions. Sun gives better flowering, but partial shade also suits it. PFAF lists USDA hardiness zones 3–7. Its wild habitat offers a guide to site choice. Good drainage matters more than keeping the soil constantly moist.

Slugs can make this plant hard to grow outdoors. PFAF reports that they feed on it with great relish. The plant may also hold back the growth of nearby plants. Legumes seem especially prone to this effect. Sow fresh seed in a cold frame after it ripens. Stored seed may germinate slowly and at uneven times. Keep seedlings in a cold frame for their first season. Division is possible in spring or autumn. Divided plants can be hard to establish.

This species has a long history of medicinal use. It contains cardiac glycosides that affect heart function. PFAF notes that uneven absorption limits its medicinal use. It is toxic and has no known edible uses. It should not serve as a food plant. Wild populations are scarce across much of its range. Many countries protect it from gathering. Use cultivated plants rather than collecting from the wild.