If you like adonis, you're in luck. Because the beautiful flowers can be planted all year round. We'll tell you how here.
Adonis (Adonis vernalis) belong to the buttercup family. Yellow and red flowering species are widespread. According to legend, the plants owe their name to Aphrodite, who mourned the death of Adonis and saw how his blood colored the flowers. The more than 30 species of the plant family are native to Europe and Asia and are often cultivated in the home garden. However, they make some demands. Find out here what you need to consider when planting Adonis.
Adonis create a year-round dance of flowers
Planting Adonis doesn't have to be limited to one species. You can diversify the garden year with different types of plants. While in spring the Amur Adonis provides the first dash of color, the warm season is accompanied by the summer Adonis. As summer draws to a close, the Autumn Adonis will unfurl its blooms.
But watch out: The adonis is a poisonous plant and can be compared to the foxglove. Be careful with children and pets. Therefore, always wear gloves when planting and tending!
The most popular species for the garden bed
❍ Amur Adonis:
You can already admire the yellow blossom of the Amur Adonis in February. The plants have been cultivated since the middle of the 19th century and grow bushy and compact to a height of around 15 centimetres. The Amur Adonis is particularly demanding in terms of light conditions and soil conditions. Various hardy hybrids are sold today to make cultivation easier.
❍ Summer Adonis:
The summer adonis is the namesake of this plant species and is also called summer blood droplet or blood eye because of its red flower. The plant is in bloom between May and June and can reach heights of growth of up to one meter under optimal conditions. The plants form long taproots with whichHelp them get nutrients. They prefer a dry and warm location.
❍ Autumn Adonis:
The autumn Adonis flower delights with its blossom until the beginning of October. The strong red flowers with their black eye are particularly attractive. Until the end of the 19th century, the plants were mainly found in grain fields. Today, borders and cottage gardens also benefit from the plants, which are around 40 centimeters high.
How to properly plant Adonis
Select the appropriate location:
The Adonis roses originally come from quite cool regions, which makes them robust for the winter in our latitudes. However, the plants prefer warm summers and consequently a bright and sunny location. Preferred locations are rock gardens or dry stone walls.
If you want to enjoy the flowers of the Adonis flower for a long time, you should refrain from a location in the shade or semi-shade. The plants like full sun. The sun should shine unhindered on the plants for at least four hours a day. A wind-protected location is also an advantage.
The plant feels particularly at home on slopes and hill beds. This also has the advantage that the moisture can drain away better and the location can generally be kept drier, as long as it meets the location requirements of the respective plant variety. The plants are less suitable for cultivation in tubs, because the plants do not tolerate repotting and then stop flowering.
Select the right substrate:
The Adonis flower is also quite demanding with regard to the substrate. A loose and sandy soil is ideal. On the other hand, the plant gets less from a humus-rich soil. Clay soils should be mixed with plenty of lime and sand. Growth is also promoted by a high lime content.
There are differences between the individual plant species with regard to the composition of the soil. The following overview makes some differences clear:
| Adonis Art | Location Conditions |
|---|---|
| Amur Adonis | The Amur Adonis prefers a fresh and moist soil with a high nutrient content. The substrate should also have a low lime content and be as slightly acidic as possible. |
| Spring Adonis | The early bloomer needs a dry and calcareous soil. The ideal substrate for the spring adonis is sandy, loamy soil. |
| Summer and Autumn Adonis | Both plant species have identical site requirements. The soil should be as moist as possible, but waterlogging is not tolerated. A nutrient-rich and calcareous clay soil proves to be the ideal substrate. |
Planting Adonis - step by step instructions:
Adonis can grow up to half a meter high and do very well in group plantings. You can use up to ten plants per square meter. The planting distance between the individual Adonis should not be less than 20 centimeters. Late summer is the best time to plant Adonis. In principle, early young plants are easier to cultivate than plants grown from seeds. Proceed as follows when planting:
- Fill the soil thoroughly.
- Now mix compost and horn shavings under the substrate as fertilizer.
- Dig the planting hole twice the width of the root ball.
- Now insert the plant.
- Fill up the substrate and press down gently on the soil.
- Now water the plant well.
Plants don't like the close company of plants that steal the sun from them. Preferred planting neighbors of Adonis are:
- Silver Thistles
- Cornflowers
- corn poppies
- Pasque Flower