Adonis

In Greek mythology, Adonis was the personification of masculine beauty. He was a mortal youth of such stunning good looks that when Aphrodite saw him, she inadvertently pricked herself on Eros’s arrow and fell madly in love with him. Adonis returned her love, and despite the fact that Aphrodite was married, they began a passionate love affair.

Adonis was not only beautiful, he was also an incredibly skilled hunter and spent most of his time hunting. One day, he dared to claim he was as skilled a hunter as Artemis (goddess of the hunt). In retaliation, she sent the most enormous boar ever known to terrorize the countryside, knowing he would not be able to resist the temptation to hunt it. She was right. Adonis went after the boar even though Aphrodite begged him not to. The boar gored him and Aphrodite found him as he lay dying; she could not save him.

Aphrodite caused beautiful flowers to spring up from his blood and after his death, she journeyed to the underworld in an attempt to reclaim him. Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, would not allow it; it was said Adonis was so beautiful she did not want to be parted from him. Dismayed and heartbroken, Aphrodite returned to Olympus. A great festival was held every year on the anniversary of his death. Aphrodite and Adonis were said to have had a daughter together, named Beroe. She was pursued by both Dionysus and Poseidon. The city of Beirut, in Lebanon, is named for her.

Linnaeus chose to give the Latin name of Adonis to a genus of flowering plants that are similarly beautiful, but appear to die far too soon. They emerge from the ground, flower, and go dormant in a very short period of time. Many of them have bright scarlet flowers.

There are about 20 or 30 species found here, some perennial and some annual. Most are fairly low growing with very finely divided foliage. All are native to the cold parts of Europe and Asia, and some make very fine bedding plants. Like most things in this family, all species of Adonis are poisonous. The degree of their toxicity has not been well documented in humans, but horses have died after eating them.

The annual species of adonis make good bedding plants but they are highly resentful of disturbance and the seed should be direct sown in warm soil. Seeds should be fresh. They are commonly known as pheasant’s eye.

Adonis vernalis, the spring adonis, is a perennial with finely divided leaves and large, bright yellow flowers in early spring. It is very showy but goes dormant almost immediately after blooming.

Adonis amurensis, a Chinese species, is a similar perennial but a taller species whose leaves are not as dissected. The blooms range from light orange to golden yellow. Both are perfectly hardy and very welcome additions to a prairie garden.

Adonis annua (annual adonis) grows about 40 centimeters (16 inches) tall and blooms June through August.

Adonis aestivalis is another annual with larger blooms that range from orange to red and is very easy to grow.

Both Adonis annua and Adonis aestivalis will self sow where conditions suit them, but deadheading will prolong the flowering.