Hepatica

Hepatica

Hepatica acutiloba ( Sharp Lobed Hepatica )
A herbaceous, clumping, perennial, reaching a maximum size of 9 inches x 2 feet, that is native to rich, upland, mixed or deciduous woods in eastern North America ( from central Minnesota to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to Tobermory, Ontario to Chalk River, Ontario southeast Quebec to Maine; south to northern Arkansas to far northern Georgia ). In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario region; it was abundant around Leamington, the Lake Erie islands as well as the Ohio shore during the 1800s. It also occurred sporadically at Detroit during that time. The are excellent for the shaded rock garden or woodland garden.
The leaves are trifoliate with sharp-tipped, broad-rounded leaflets up to 2.5 x 2 inches in size.
The foliage is bright green, later turning to deep green.
The white or light pink flowers, up to 1 inch across, are borne during early to mid spring, sometimes repeating during summer and early autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in partial to full shade on moist, fertile, humus-rich, neutral to alkaline, well drained soil.
Easy to grow and tolerant of heat and drought as long as it is in shade.
Transplant carefully, it does not like root disturbance.

* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Wash., DC

* photo taken by Jennifer Anderson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

'Eco Royal Blue'
Blue flowers.

Hepatica americana ( Round-lobed Hepatica )
A herbaceous, clumping, perennial, reaching a maximum size of 9 inches x 2 feet, that is native to rocky or dry, deciduous woodlands of eastern North America ( from southern Manitoba to the north shore of Lake Superior to Haileybury, Ontario to southern Quebec to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; south to Arkansas to South Carolina ). In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario region; it was locally common around Leamington, the Lake Erie islands as well as the Ohio shore during the 1800s. The are excellent for the shaded rock garden or woodland garden.
The leaves are trifoliate with round-tipped, broad-rounded leaflets up to 2.5 inches in length.
The foliage is deep green.
The white to pinkish-blue ( blue on acidic soil ) flowers, up to 1 inch across, are borne during early to mid spring.
Hardy zones 2 to 8 in partial to full shade on well drained soil.
Easy to grow and tolerant of heat and drought as long as it is in shade.
Transplant carefully, it does not like root disturbance.

* photo taken on June 1 2014 @ Maryland Horticulturalist Society garden tour, Ellicott City

* photo taken @ Smithsonian Inst, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

Hepatica media 'Ballard'
A semi-evergreen perennial, reaching a maximum size of 6 inches x 2 feet, that is . The are excellent for the shaded rock garden or woodland garden.
The leaves are trifoliate with broad rounded leaflets.
The foliage is deep green.
The purplish-pink flowers, up to 1 inch across, are borne during early to mid spring.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in partial shade on well drained soil.
Easy to grow and tolerant of heat and drought as long as it is in shade.
Transplant carefully, it does not like root disturbance.

Hepatica maxima
A very beautiful, evergreen perennial, reaching up to 1 foot, that is native to Korea and Japan where it is endangered. It forms a mound of very large, leathery leaves, up to 5 inches across, that are deep green above, purple beneath.
The flowers are light pink.
Hardy zones 6 to 8 in partial to full shade on moist, alkaline, well drained soil. Thrives in the Pacific Northwest.

Hepatica nobilis ( European Hepatica )
Also called Anemone hepatica. A rhizomatous, herbaceous to semi-evergreen perennial, reaching a maximum size of 9 inches x 2 feet, that is native to woodlands in Europe. The are excellent for the shaded rock garden or woodland garden.
The leaves are trifoliate with broad, pointed leaflets up to 3.5 x 2.3 inches in size. The foliage is glossy deep green ( sometimes mottled grayish-green ) above, reddish-brown beneath. The new foliage emerges as the foliage begins to fade.
The blue flowers are borne during early to mid spring.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in partial shade on well drained soil.
Easy to grow and tolerant of heat and drought as long as it is in shade.
Transplant carefully, it does not like root disturbance.

* photos taken on March 28 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo taken on May 8 2010 in Columbia, MD

* photos of unknown internet source

* historic archive photo

'Alba Plena'
Double white flowers.

var. 'asiatica'
Foliage is mottled with silvery-gray. The flowers are variable in color.

'Caerulea'
Blue flowers.

'Eco Blue Harlequin'
Foliage is mottled, the flowers are blue.

var. 'japonica'
A subspecies native to eastern Asia. The attractive foliage is green with heavy silvery-gray or yellow mottling.

* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

'Marmorata'
The foliage is marbled in silvery-gray.

'Plena'
Double blue flowers.

'Rosea'
Pink flowers.

'Rubra'
Deep rosy-red flowers.

'Rubra Plena'
Double red flowers.

Hepatica transsilvanica
A rhizomatous, spreading, herbaceous perennial, reaching a maximum size of 6 inches x 2 feet, that is native to woodlands of eastern Europe. The are excellent for the shaded rock garden or woodland garden.
The leaves, up to 4 inches in length, are trifoliate with broad rounded leaflets.
The foliage is deep green ( often mottled with gray-green ).
The pale purplish-blue flowers, up to 2 inches across, are borne solitary during early to mid spring.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in partial to full shade on moist, fertile, well drained soil.
Easy to grow and tolerant of heat and drought as long as it is in shade.
Transplant carefully, it does not like root disturbance.

'Buis'
Blue flowers.

'Ellison Spence'
Very profuse, double, silvery-blue flowers.

'Loddon Blue'
Similar with bright blue flowers.

Hepatica yamatutai
A rhizomatous, spreading, herbaceous perennial, reaching a maximum size of 6 inches x 2 feet, that is native to woodlands of Korea. The are excellent for the shaded rock garden or woodland garden.
The leaves are trifoliate with broad rounded leaflets.
The foliage is deep green.
The pale purplish-blue flowers, up to 2 inches across, are borne during early to mid spring.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in partial to full shade on moist, fertile, well drained soil.
Easy to grow and tolerant of heat and drought as long as it is in shade.
Transplant carefully, it does not like root disturbance.