Sanicula epipactis

An endearing little plant, not least because it appears in January before most snowdrops and aconites have made a start. The flowers open, almost at ground-level, clusters of tiny, yellow fertile flowers surrounded by conspicuous olive-green, petal-like bracts, a bit like an astrantia to which it is related. A succession of these cheering little faces appears well into spring. They need moist soil in shade during the growing season, will tolerate drier conditions later in the year. Previously known as Hacquetia epipactis.