This week: Get Ready for Spring Ephemerals!
Hello!
It’s the start of spring ephemeral season—the time of year when early woodland wildflowers catch the sun before the tree canopy fills in. Their timing corresponds with emerging beneficial insects on the hunt for pollen. May you be lucky enough to stumble upon at least one of these three over the next few weeks!
Jacob’s Ladder
A particularly fetching ephemeral flower is Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans). At just 12 to 18 inches tall, this peewee has a sprawling habit and an uncommon glowing pale blue color. Unlike other spring ephemerals, the ladder-like foliage lasts long after the flowers fade. While it can grow in full sun, it prefers the nearly full shade of the woods.
Trillium
These spring ephemerals are easy to identify: each flower has three petals, three sepals (leaf-like covering that protects the unopened flower), and three leaves (bracts), hence the “tri” name. Trillium is slow-growing, adding a flower every 7 years, give or take. If you see a Trillium plant with three flowers, it could be 21 years old, if not older. Please don’t pick or trample these flowers! Red Trillium (Trillium erectum) is pictured.
Virginia Spring Beauty
Virginia Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) is truly tiny and, unlike Trillium, can withstand mild trampling. The plant spreads underground, creating an impressive swath of blooms you can’t miss. It grows 4 to 5 inches tall and has small pinkish-white flowers that float atop grassy foliage—in fact, I’ve mostly encountered Spring Beauty growing among the grass.
Take advantage of the warmer temperatures and get out to see some flowers!
Elsewhere:
In Pennsylvania, you can root out invasive trees and shrubs on your property and “turn them in” for free native replacements. Find out more about PA’s Invasive Replace-ive Program.
Happy Spring!
Julie