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March 9, 2006
THE YELLOWS, PINKS AND PURPLES OF SPRING ARE ON THEIR WAY
Spring wildflowers will start popping up this month
COLUMBUS, OH - Some of nature’s most beautiful blooms will soon make their spring debut along woodland floors and fields across Ohio. Blossoming spring wildflowers take their cue directly from the sun, and as the daylight hours increase so do the variety and numbers of blooms.
Spotting some of the Buckeye State’s 2,300 species of plants shouldn’t be difficult, but here’s a guide to a few of the more notable spring beauties and suggested locations on where they can be found:
Hepatica - This flower (also known as liverleaf) is an early bloomer, flowering as early as late February and early March in southern parts of Ohio. Flower color varies from white to bluish or pinkish and its three-lobed leaves resemble the shape of a human liver. Hepatica is found in woodlands throughout the state, including Fowler Woods in Ashland County and Shallenberger State Nature Preserve in Fairfield County.
Bloodroot - Also called red puccoon, this common perennial wildflower is found in most Ohio woods. It is one of the few native members of the poppy family and its name refers to the reddish, blood-like liquid that oozes out when it is cut. Bloodroot blooms from mid-March to mid-April. Each flower has eight to 14 white petals with many yellow stamens in the center. This wildflower can be found at Shallenberger State Nature Preserve in Fairfield County and Hueston Woods State Nature Preserve and State Park in Preble County.
Marsh Marigold - The bright yellow blooms of the marsh marigold are found primarily in the swamps and wet meadows of the state. This wildflower is one of the earliest and showiest of wetland plants and can be seen from mid-March to late April. Often growing in large tufts, marsh marigold thrives in state nature preserves with swamp forest habitat, such as Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve in Richland County and Lawrence Woods State Nature Preserve in Hardin County.
Spring Beauty - One of Ohio’s prettiest spring ephemerals, this dainty flower begins blooming in late March and is dormant by June. Its delicate pink or white five-petaled blooms are only about a half-inch in width, but can be seen carpeting the floor of woods throughout the state. Spring beauty, which folds up its petals after sundown, can be seen at Goll Woods State Nature Preserve in Fulton County and Stage’s Pond State Nature Preserve in Pickaway County.
Dutchman’s Breeches - A member of the bleeding heart family, this wildflower has been called white hearts, soldier’s cap and ear-drops. Dutchman’s breeches blooms from late March to late April and is dormant by early June. Its common name refers to the pantaloon-shaped white flowers that dangle upside down, as if on a clothesline. This distinctive perennial can be found in woodlands throughout Ohio, including Johnson Woods State Nature Preserve in Wayne County and Augusta-Anne Olsen State Nature Preserve in Huron County.
Yellow Trout-Lily - This common spring flower heralds the end of winter across Ohio’s forests and woodlands. The golden blossoms of yellow trout-lily flourish in early April. Although thousands of these plants can be found carpeting forest floors, only a few actually flower each year. Its leaves range from mottled to occasionally all green. This 6- to 10-inch tall plant also is called dog’s-tooth violet, although it is not a true violet. The yellow trout-lily can be spotted at Johnson Woods State Nature Preserve in Wayne County and Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve in Jackson County.
Red Trillium - Often called wake-robin or stinking Benjamin, red trillium is one of Ohio’s most striking woodland wildflowers. The native perennial grows primarily in eastern Ohio and can reach up to 2 feet in height. Typically the flower is a deep maroon-red, but can be white or pale yellow. Red trillium blooms from April to May and can be found at Eagle Creek State Nature Preserve in Portage County, Quail Hollow State Park in Stark County, and Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve in Hocking County.
Wild Geranium - One of Ohio’s late spring woodland wildflowers, wild geranium blooms from April until June and grows best in woodland soil. Geranium is derived from an old Greek name, geranos (crane), referring to the similarity of the flower’s fruit to a crane’s bill. The deeply cleft leaves are rather distinctive. This pinkish flower can be seen at Knox Woods State Nature Preserve in Knox County and Caesar Creek Gorge State Nature Preserve and neighboring state park in Warren County.
Wild Columbine - A rather uncommon woodland wildflower, wild columbine grows primarily on limestone or dolomite rocks. However, it can be found on sandstone and in sandy soils as well. Columbine’s distinctive upside-down spurred flowers are a popular nectar source for the ruby-throated hummingbird. Wild columbine flowers in April and it may continue blooming into July. The flower can be found at Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve and adjacent John Bryan State Park in Greene County and at Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve in Adams County.
Enjoy these beautiful blooms while on a wildflower hike at these Ohio State Parks:
- Wildflowers and Waterfalls Hike at Hocking Hill State Park in Hocking County - 10 a.m., Friday, April 21 at the Ash Cave parking lot.
- Spring Wildflower Hike at Hueston Woods State Park in Preble and Butler counties - 1 p.m., Saturday, April 22 at the Nature Center.
- Wildflower Walk at Lake Hope State Park in Vinton County - 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 22 at the Hope Furnace parking lot.
- Spring Wildflower Walk at Malabar Farm State Park in Richland County - 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 22 at the gift shop.
- Birds and Buds at Van Buren State Park in Hancock County - 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, April 22 at the nature center.
- Wildflower Walk at Salt Fork State Park in Guernsey County - 2 p.m., Saturday, April 29 at the Kennedy Stone House.
- Wildflower enthusiasts also can enjoy guided hikes at these state nature preserves:
- The Best of Birds and Blooms at Eagle Creek State Nature Preserve in Portage County - Saturday, May 6. Bird hike begins at 8 a.m. Wildflower hikes begin at 10 a.m. and noon.
- Lakeside Daisy Open House at Lakeside Daisy State Nature Preserve in Ottawa County - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, May 13.
Photographs of these wildflowers can be found at ohiodnr.com/spring
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