Round-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica americana)Buttercup Family This dainty wildflower is often one of the first flowers to bloom in late winter, and are one of the first nectar sources available to early emerging insects. Flower color is variable, but is often some shade of blue. The flowers emerge, surrounded by the previous years leaf set, which can be dark purple and aged looking. After flowering, new, bright green leaves soon emerge to lay flush to the ground for the remainder of the year. This species is more tolerant of average and dry soils than many spring-emerging woodland species. Blooms: Blue/White/Purple, 2-3 weeks, Feb-AprLeaves: Sometimes mottled, 3-lobed leaves are leathery and evergreenHeight: 6-9” Space: 6-9”Soil: Average-MoistExposure: Shade-Part shadeFauna: Mostly beesDeer Resistance: HighZone: 3-8Native Status: NC native, common in the Piedmont and Mountains, uncommon in the Coastal Plain & MountainsProvenance: North Carolina ecotype, seed and asexually grown
