Eranthis hyemalis (winter aconite)s

They are the earliest yellow flowers and make a perfect late-winter carpeting beneath trees and shrubs. Any soil, including clay, is suitable as long as it is moderately well-drained and does not dry out in summer. It makes a lovely early spring show in combination with snowdrops. A mulch of decayed manure and leafmold once every two years in the fall will insure more and finer flowers. It is thought that soaking the black tubers in water 24 hours to planting increases the percentage of flowers the first spring.

Plant 2 inches deep, 3 inches apart.