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Spring Ephemerals: The First Wildflowers
Contributed by: Betsy Rothwell
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Go for a walk in the woods to see the first wildflowers! Called “spring ephemerals,” these tiny flowers emerge in early spring and disappear when the tree canopies fill out! They have descriptive names: Trillium, Dutchman’s Breeches, and Trout Lily, to name a few. A sure sign of spring in my area is when the Eastern Spring Beauty appears. Like other spring-blooming ephemerals, this tiny wildflower makes use of the short time before trees leaf out and block the sun on the woodland ground. They fit most of their above-ground life into a few weeks in April and May, then fade away until next spring. What are Spring Ephemerals? We call these early wildflowers “ephemerals” because most, if not all, of their growth dies back when it starts to get warm. They are perennials which grow from underground corms or rhizomes. They can put on such an early show because they have stored food in their bulbs from the previous year’s growth. Don’t let their small, delicate appearance fool you. These lovely wildflowers are tough. They are perfectly adapted to the harsh growing conditions of early spring, utilizing the high levels of moisture and nutrients in the soil of deciduous forests at this time of year. Moist soil helps moderate the extreme difference between day and night temperatures and by growing low to the ground, they are out of the range of cold, drying winds. Spring-blooming ephemerals bloom for only a few precious weeks; they need to complete most of their life cycle in the early spring before the trees, shrubs, and plants leaf out and take the available light. Since there are not too many flying insects active this early in the spring, many ephemerals are pollinated by specialized beetles or ants. Others have evolved to look or smell like rotting meat to attract any flesh-eating flies that might be out early. Ants not only pollinate some of the plants but also disseminate the seeds. How many of these ephemerals can you spot? |
Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) look just like white pantaloons hanging upside-down to dry. They are also called Soldier’s Cap or Butterfly Banners and are related to bleeding hearts. The upside-down blossoms protect the pollen from wind and rain. Only the female bumblebees with their long tongues can reach the nectar deep inside the long spurs and pollinate the flower in the process. The petals appear before the leaves unfurl and at night they close up to protect the centre from rain or frost. |
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Eastern Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica) are light pink and have five-petaled flowers with dark-pink veins and long, succulent leaves. |
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Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) is the earliest blooming lily, bearing small yellow trumpets with recurved petals. The purple splotches on its leaves resemble the markings on a brook trout, giving it its name. Credit: Gerry Bishop |
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Wild Leeks or Ramps are a slow-growing native edible plant. They have an onion/garlic flavour and are good in soups and stews or pesto. Their short growth window means ramps grow very slowly and take around seven years to reach seed-bearing age. They tend to grow in dense carpets under hardwood trees, slowly expanding the colony each year. The green leaves grow from a dark red stem leading into the ground. Below ground the perennial bulb is white. When harvesting, cut with a sharp knife just at the base of the red stem, and DO NOT harvest the perennial bulb. |
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Trilliums (Trillium erectum) are all about threes. The plant has three heart-shaped leaves, three large petals, three green sepals, and comes in one of three colours: red, white, or white with a pink centre. This has earned it the name trinity flower but it goes by many common names including Stinking Benjamin for its repulsive odour of rotting flesh meant to attract the flies that pollinate it, and Wake Robin since it usually blooms around the time the robins return. |
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Starflower (Trientalis borealis) is a plant of sevens - seven leaves, seven petals, seven stamens, and even seven seeds in each capsule. These bright white flowers spread by underground runners and will form a nice carpet if undisturbed. |
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Wood Anemones (Anemone quinquefolia) have a pliable stem that can survive strong winds. Its white blossoms have no nectar or scent and the plant is wind pollinated giving it the common name Windflower. |
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Round-Lobed Hepatica (Anemone americana) is an early bloomer; its buds have hairs that act as insulation. It is easy to miss because its tiny flowers appear among last year’s withered leaves. The blossoms can be dark violet, white or a range of pastel colours including pink, lavender, and pale blue. Its flowers self-fertile and don’t need an insect to pollinate them. |
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Cutleaf Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata) is one of the earlier spring wildflowers of moist forests and woods; the name refers to the tooth-like projections on the underground stems (actually leaf scars from the previous seasons growth). The leaves and rhizomes are edible, with a spicy flavour inspiring the common name of Pepper Root. Cutleaf Toothwort plants were used medicinally by Indigenous Peoples. |
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Just enjoy a walk in the woods and the chance to see these wildflowers during the few short weeks they flower. As the name “ephemeral” suggests, their beauty is fleeting. Love Wildflowers! |