About
Hepatica is one of my favorite spring ephemerals. It is a beautiful, delicate flower that comes in many colors, including pink, blue, purple, and white. It prefers calciferous soil, i.e., sedimentary rock like limestone and sandstone, which is prevalent in Ohio. This type of bedrock is also more exposed in the southeastern part of the state, where the land is unglaciated and more cut by streams and cliffs, although I have seen isolated populations in the southwest as well.
There are two varieties that I have seen around Ohio and are the most common of the dozen or so species, Sharp Lobed (Hepatica acutiloba) and Round Lobed (Hepatica americana) referring to the shape of the leaves. The leaves have three lobes and are evergreen until just before blooming, when they turn deep red and wither. At this time, the flower arrives, and then the new leaves for the next year.
Bloom Window
Hepatica blooms in early Spring and depends on the weather. I’ve seen it blooming as early as late February in Ohio. It will bloom throughout March; however, the length of each flower’s bloom only lasts a week or two at most. One way to tell when it’s about ready to bloom is the leaves (which are present all year) turning deep red and withering right before the new flowers arrive.
Taxonomy
- Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup)
- Genus: Hepatica
- Species: Hepatica spp. (Hepatica) – Hepatica americana (Round Lobed Hepatica, Hepatica acutiloba (Sharp Lobed Hepatica)
Where to Find It
Hardwood woodlands in the Eastern half of the US and most of Europe. Prefers rich soil with lime or sandstone areas. I have seen in all over the south eastern quarter of the state all the way up to east of Cleveland. I have also seen it in the limestone areas in the south western quarter of the state.
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