Adonis vernalis : delicate spring flower

Adonis vernalis is a lovely perennial plant that returns each spring. It naturally thrives in open woodlands and grassy areas. Look for it on sunny slopes and mountain foothills. It also grows in the forest-steppe. You can grow this delicate spring flower in your own garden. It adds beauty to rock gardens and rockeries. Imagine its sunny blooms brightening your landscape.

Adonis vernalis is a member of the buttercup family. It is also known simply as adonis. Some people call it hare poppy and hairy adonis. These common names reflect its appearance. They also point to where it grows.


The plant's main name comes from Greek mythology. Adonis was the beloved of Aphrodite, a goddess. Ares, a jealous god, killed Adonis. Anemones sprang up where his blood touched the ground. Aphrodite then created a yellow flower. It would bloom each year where his body fell. This flower was named adonis in his memory.

The plant has a simple botanical form. Its rhizome, an underground stem, is short. It grows straight down. The flower reaches 4 to 12 inches tall. Its stems are smooth and mostly bare. They stand upright or lean slightly.