Description
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense. A low-growing native that spreads in shady woodlands with soft, heart-shaped leaves that form a lush groundcover. In spring, it hides a small, maroon flower beneath its leaves which can be easy to miss, but fun to find! Ranges in height from 4-8″ and blooms in April to May. Wild Ginger loves rich, moist soil and deep shade. It’s perfect for woodland gardens or shady spots under trees where other grasses are hard to grow.
Spring Beauty
Claytonia virginica. One of the first wildflowers to bloom in early spring, bringing soft color to shady woods and gardens. Spring Beauty quietly welcomes spring before the trees leaf out and and quickly returns to dormancy after blooming. Its grass-like leaves grow 4-10″ in height. Delicate white to pale pink or lavender flowers with darker stripes bloom from early April to May. It thrives in moist, well-drained soil and part to full shade.
Dutchman’s Breeches
Dicentra cucullaria. Dutchman’s Breeches derives it’s common name from white and yellow, pants-shaped blossoms that appear to dangle like pants hanging on a clothesline on laundry day. Blooming in April to early May, flowers rise 6-12″ above soft, fern-like leaves. It prefers moist, rich soil and shady woodland settings. This spring ephemeral will grow and blossom quickly and return to dormancy by early summer.
Prairie Shooting Star
Dodecatheon meadia. Smooth, lance-shaped leaves form a low rosette at the base and sends up taller narrow shoots, 12-24″ tall. Striking wildflowers, pink to lavender in color, look like tiny shooting stars atop the tall, nodding stems. Blossoms generally appear in May and early June. Prairie Shooting Star thrives in full sun to light shade and well-drained soil, especially in prairies or open woodland edges. A true spring showstopper!
Virginia Strawberry
Fragaria virginiana. This charming, low-growing plant provides excellent ground cover with three-part leaves and white, five-petaled flowers. Grows 4-7″ tall and spreads by runners, forming a soft, green natural mat. A fantastic option for a low-maintenance turf grass alternative. Typically blooming in May to June, tiny red strawberries follow the blossom and provide sweet treats for a variety of critters and wildlife. Extremely resilient and versatile, this native thrives in full sun to part shade and well-drained soil, from prairies to open woods and even garden edges.
Sharp-lobed Hepatica
Hepatica acutiloba. One of the earliest woodland ephemerals, it begins blooming as early as March, but can be seen into May. Delicate white, pink, or lavender flowers are among the first to poke through woodland leaf litter. Growing 4-6″ tall, three-lobed leaves are leathery and stay green through winter. Thrives in part to full shade and rich, well-drained soil perfect for naturalizing in shady gardens and woodland areas.
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica. Virginia Bluebells light up spring woodlands with clusters of bell-shaped flowers. Seemingly magical blossoms start bright pink and turn a stunning blue. Blooming from April to May, will reach heights of 12-24″. An ephemeral, its smooth, blue-green leaves emerge early and disappear by midsummer. Thrive in moist, rich soil and part to full shade, making them ideal for woodland gardens or shady woodland edges.
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum. Mayapple spreads across woodland floors with large, umbrella-like leaves that can reach 12-18″ in height. In May, these umbrella leaves hide a single white flower, which develops into a small yellow fruit, later in the year. Expect blossoms from April into May. Thrives in part to full shade and moist, rich soil. Mayapple spreads through rhizomes and can expand to form colonies in shady, wooded garden areas.
Rue Anemone
Thalictrum thalictroides. Rue Anemone is a delicate spring wildflower with airy white or pale pink blooms. Short in stature, usually ranging from 4-10″ in height, it has soft, divided leaves that resemble Early Meadow Rue. Providing blossoms in April to May, this gentle bloomer prefers part to full shade and rich, well-drained soil. Often found in woodlands, it’s the perfect choice for shady gardens to bring early-season charm before the trees fully leaf.
Large-flowered Bellwort
Uvularia grandiflora. Large-flowered Bellwort brings soft elegance to spring woodlands with its drooping, pale yellow, bell-shaped flowers. Blooms appear in April to May and will grow 12-20″ tall. The leaves are light green in color, oval shaped, and grow on all sides as though pierced by the stem. Thrives in part to full shade and moist, rich, well-drained soil. It’s a graceful addition to shady gardens, adding early-season color and a natural woodland feel.
