Nothing signals that winter in trending toward spring in our garden more than the seriously cute, Amana anhuiensis. Most folks have probably never heard of this miniature bulb, since it was only published in 2013. The genus itself, was first published in 1867 as an Orithyia, before becoming a tulip a few years later, and finally an Amana in 1935. Genetically, Amana falls between tulips and erythroniums.
In the wild, Amana anhuiensis hails from China’s Anhui province, where it grows in meadows from 1,000 to 2,500′ elevation. In China, it is used, and actually farmed medicinally as a diuretic, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory. Our plants have been thriving in our crevice garden since 2019. This 4″ tall dwarf loves the cold of winter, and disappears for summer with the rest of the spring ephemerals by late April.
