Adonis aestivalis
Adonis aestivalis · Ranunculaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant adonis aestivalis: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Type
- Annual herbaceous plant
- Flowering
- June to August
- Adult height
- 30 to 60 cm
- Foliage
- Deciduous, finely cut
- Hardiness
- Annual, frost-sensitive
- Origin
- Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia
- Ideal exposure
- Full sun
Care
Exposure
Summer adonis requires a very sunny location for abundant and intense flowering. Place it in full sun for at least 6 hours per day. In shade, the plant will become leggy and produce few flowers.
Soil
Prefer well-drained, light, and rather poor soil. Adonis tolerates chalky and gravelly soils. Avoid heavy and damp soils that promote root rot. Sandy soil or soil mixed with gravel works perfectly.
Watering
Water moderately and regularly during growth and flowering. Let the soil dry slightly on the surface between waterings. Reduce watering toward the end of the cycle. Avoid standing water at all costs.
Fertilizing
Summer adonis requires only light feeding. Apply a balanced, diluted fertilizer every 3 to 4 weeks during flowering. Excess nitrogen promotes foliage at the expense of flowers.
Maintenance and deadheading
Pinch the plant lightly when young to encourage a bushier, more branched habit. Regularly remove spent flowers to extend flowering. This annual plant needs no structural pruning.
Health and prevention
Summer adonis is generally resistant to pests. Watch for powdery mildew in overly humid conditions. Ensure good air circulation and well-drained soil. No specific treatment is usually necessary under normal conditions.
Did you know?
Summer adonis is consecrated in Greek mythology and bears the name of the handsome young man Adonis, a symbol of ephemeral beauty. Its intensely scarlet-red flowers have inspired poets and painters throughout the centuries, particularly in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, when it was cultivated in princely ornamental gardens.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Stinking helleboreHelleborus foetidus
- Meadow rueThalictrum aquilegiifolium
- Christmas roseHelleborus niger
- Grecian windflowerAnemone blanda
- Lenten roseHelleborus orientalis
- Hubei AnemoneEriocapitella hupehensis
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.