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Moving Winter Aconites - Eranthis

lisaduthie1lisaduthie1 Posts: 10
in Plants
Hello, My first time here and a beginner gardener. We have a new garden that needs a LOT of work, and on cutting back some very old wild roses, have found lots of beautiful yellow Eranthis in bloom. The site needs a lot of digging over and work and so I want to move them to protect them. How am I best to do this and when is the best time? Thank you - I dont know what their final destination will be yet as just starting with plans - not sure if I have to decide that now and get them in or if I can keep them in pots for a while? Many thanks - Lisa 
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  • lisaduthie1lisaduthie1 Posts: 10

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    edited February 2023
    Hello Lisa  :)

    Personally l would wait until after they have flowered before digging them up, if you can. As they are pretty established you could also take the opportunity to split the clumps when you lift them.

    I can't see a problem wuth putting them in pots while the ground is sorted out, but l'm sure someone else can confirm. 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @lisaduthie1 If you have to you could do it now, or wait until after flowering. Like snowdrops they are best lifted 'in the green'. You could put some in pots, personally I think they would be best moved straight to their new home and get them established. Eranthis seems to settle and grow well in some gardens making a carpet of flowers in others it grows but is slow to spread. In some gardens it just seems to hang on, all about growing conditions I assume. I love to see Eranthis growing with snowdrops.
    Welcome.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd just do as @AnniD describes, if you need to get stuck in to the area. I often move things when in flower, but others may hesitate. They'll be fine potted up.
    Eranthus are pretty tough though, so it's just a question of how quickly you want to clear the area. Ideally - they're best moved after flowering, just so you get the benefit of those flowers. 
    I love them with snowdrops too @GardenerSuze, and I'm getting some for this garden for all the places I have those. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I also have what I think is Bowles Golden Sedge nearby which also looks good with Eranthis and Snowdrops.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited February 2023
    The best thing with a new garden is just to watch and note in the first year.  There will be other hidden goodies lurking.  Obviously. do a bit of tidying and controlling obvious weeds.

    If you must ...   dig them up with as much undisturbed root and soil and find some spare ground to plant them in.  Now is as good a time as any.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Hi @lisaduthie1 and welcome.

    Mine have seeded around a lot here, so I now have a good sized carpet of them. 
    I find the trick is to leave the flower stems on until they are drying out, and then flick the seeds in the direction you want to extend the carpet.
    I also save some seeds and scatter them whilst they are still fresh into another spot in the garden and these are now bulking up nicely too.

    So you could lift yours and pot them up, but also save some seed when they've finished flowering.

    Good luck with your new garden.

    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • lisaduthie1lisaduthie1 Posts: 10
    Thanks everyone, some really helpful advice there. I will leave them for now until I am ready to work the area, and pot them until I can replant. @bédé - thanks I think Im going to have to do that as I can see from unremoved spent plants there are things to emerge Ive not yet seen. and a lot of overgrown plants and weeds to sort out in the meantime. Every days a school day! 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited February 2023
    @lisaduthie1 That is very good advise from @bede Eranthis is a plant that you are more likely to find in a garden that has been enjoyed and cultivated by a gardener. So yes it is very likely there will be more treasures. If you come across other things and you are unsure if it is a weed or plant post more photos forID's. Good luck with your plans.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Just be a little bit wary where you move Eranthis. If they are happy they grow easily, but in some places they just seem to fail.
    The great Christo Lloyd claimed he could never grow them at all.
    I took years to get a few colonies going, they seemed very picky.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
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