Hacquetia epipactis, hacqetia
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Perennials

Hacquetia epipactis

hacqetia

ApiaceaeEurope

At a Glance

TypePerennial
HabitClumping
FoliageDeciduous
Height6–10 inches (15–25 cm)
Width8–12 inches (20–30 cm)
Maturity4 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

5 - 9
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
Zone 9
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators
Deer Resistant
Container Friendly
Maintenancevery low

Overview

Hacquetia epipactis is a small, rhizomatous, clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the family Apiaceae, native to moist, shady beech and mixed deciduous woodland in central and southeastern Europe, from the eastern Alps through the Balkans to Poland. It is a plant of singular charm, producing its flowers in late winter to early spring — January through April in mild Pacific Northwest gardens — before the leaves have fully developed. The "flowers" are, botanically, compound umbels of tiny yellow florets, but the overwhelming visual impression is created by the surrounding collar of bright lime-green, leaf-like bracts that form a ruffled star around the central yellow button. Plants grow only 6–10 inches (15–25 cm) tall, forming slowly expanding clumps of glossy, three-lobed, mid-green leaves through spring and summer. The cultivar 'Thor' features white-variegated bracts. Hacquetia is slow-growing and long-lived, entirely non-invasive, and presents no maintenance challenges once established in a suitable cool, moist, shaded position. It is listed as a Great Plant Pick for Pacific Northwest gardens.

Native Range

Native to moist, shaded deciduous and mixed woodland — particularly beech forest — in the eastern Alps, the Dinaric Alps, and central and southeastern Europe, ranging from Austria and Slovenia south through Croatia and Bosnia to Serbia, and north to Poland. The species grows in humus-rich, moist, well-drained soils in deep to partial shade. Not native to North America.

Suggested Uses

Hacquetia is an outstanding choice for the front of a shaded woodland border, a rock garden with moisture and shade, or as a companion to other small early-spring woodland perennials in Pacific Northwest gardens. Its lime-green flower display in January to April provides color at a time when little else is in bloom in the shaded garden. Pairs naturally with Galanthus, Erythronium, Primula, Hepatica, and early Helleborus. The compact scale and slow, non-invasive habit make it appropriate for small gardens and intimate planting schemes. A Great Plant Pick for the Pacific Northwest.

How to Identify

Hacquetia is identified in late winter and early spring by its distinctive composite flower heads: small, rounded clusters of tiny bright yellow florets surrounded by a ruffled collar of six to eight bright lime-green, petal-like bracts 1.5–2 inches (4–5 cm) across, resembling a green ruff framing a yellow button. The flowers appear before or alongside the first leaves. By late spring the leaves fully develop: glossy, dark green, three-lobed with toothed margins, to 3 inches (8 cm) across. The combination of late-winter lime-green bracts, glossy three-lobed leaves, and very compact scale is unmistakable.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 10"
Width/Spread8" - 1'

Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow
green

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks
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WinterSpring
Hacquetia blooms in late winter to early spring, typically January through April in Pacific Northwest gardens, with peak display in February and March. The lime-green bracted flower heads appear on short stems just above ground level, often emerging while the previous year's foliage is still present or alongside the first new leaves. Individual flower heads persist for four to six weeks. After bloom, the glossy leaves expand and remain attractive through summer before dying back in autumn.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Tiny yellow florets surrounded by bright lime-green petal-like bracts

Foliage Description

Glossy mid-green, three-lobed with toothed margins

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Partial Shade
Full Shade
Tolerates up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loampeat
Drainage
well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3–5 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant hacquetia in partial to full shade in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. The species requires consistent moisture throughout the growing season and performs poorly in dry conditions; a woodland garden or shaded border with regular moisture is ideal in the Pacific Northwest. Amend planting soil with leaf mould or compost at planting and top-dress annually in autumn. The plant is slow-growing but long-lived and requires virtually no maintenance once established — do not disturb the root system unnecessarily as plants resent being moved. No fertilization is needed beyond the annual compost top-dressing.

Pruning

Remove old foliage in late autumn or early winter as it yellows and dies back, cutting cleanly to the ground to leave space for the late-winter flower heads. No other pruning is required. The plant spreads slowly by short rhizomes and will not require division unless the clump becomes congested after many years, which is uncommon. If division is needed, do so in early autumn.

Pruning Schedule

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fall

Maintenance Level

very low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 3 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic