ephemerals

Helleborus foetidus (Ranunculaceae)

Stinking Hellebore. Native of Western and Southern Europe. Flowers are light green in color edged in red, tight cup-shaped, nodding and odorous. Foetidus means fetid or bud smelling and refers to the flowers. Evergreen foliage deeply divided into 4-9 leaflets. Blooms from mid-winter to spring.

Helleborus orientalis (Ranunculaceae)

Lenten Rose. Natively grown in scrub, edges of woods in Greece and Asia minor. Early spring bloomer. Creamy-white petals lightly freckled nodding above the glossy, evergreen foliage. This species is the easiest to grow and requires only shade and occasional water.

Shortia galacifolia (Diapensiaceae)

Oconee Bells. Native of Appalachian Mountains of North & South Carolina. The glossy, evergreen foliage is a great contrast with the stark white notched flower heads that peer over last year's mounded form two weeks before new foliage emerges. This rare item requires acid humus and light shade. Blooms in early spring.

Pulmonaria angustifolia (Boraginaceae)

Blue Lungwort. Native of Central Europe. Rhizome creeping perennial excellent for mass planting under specimen shrubs. Unspotted foliage has a rough bristly texture. Flower buds emerge pink in color and open into deep blue, funnel-shaped heads. Blooms from March – May.

Erythronium americanum (Liliaceae)

American Trout Lily. Native of Eastern North America. Reflexed yellowish-orange tepals are held stately above the foliage. The common name was derived from the similarities of the gray, green, & brown mottling on the foliage to the markings of a brook trout. Also the bloom period occurs during trout fishing season, April - May.

Omphalodes verna (Boraginaceae)

Blue-eyed Mary. Natively grown in damp mountains, woods of Southern Europe. Blooms from March - May. Five petals, deep blue flowers that arise above the rough, sand-paper-like textured foliage are common features in the Boraginaceae family. A fantastic ground cover for partially shaded locations.

Mertensia virginica (Boraginaceae)

Virginia Bluebells. Native of Eastern North America. This easy to grow perennial will colonize if not disturbed. Flowers are borne on racemes and both buds and young flowers are pink, which turns to an attractive bluish-purple color as it matures. Blooms from March - April. Leaves are smooth with prominent veins and gradually disappear in the summer.

Sanguinaria canadensis (Papaveraceae)

Bloodroot. Native of Eastern North America. This plant creeps and spreads along by horizontal rhizomes that produce red juice which the Native Americans used as rouge. Leaves emerge from the ground folded and vertical. They unfold to reveal prominent veins on the underside, variably lobed margins, and stark white flower heads. Blooms from April - May.

Jeffersonia diphylla (Berberidaceae)

Twinleaf. Native of New York. The translucent purple foliage is first to emerge early April, and the violet petals slowly arise above the “twinleaf” foliage in May. The foliage matures to deep, handsome green, and the petals gradually fade to white as shown. Unique seed capsules follow.

Anemone nemorosa (Ranunculaceae)

Wood Anemone. Native of Europe. Worm-like rhizomes promotes this spreading habit. Solitary flowers are borne terminally above the single-stemmed foliage that emerges half-way along the stalk. Foliage is deeply toothed into linear segments. Blooms from April - May.

Ranunculus septentrionalis (Ranunculaceae)

Swamp Buttercup or Marsh Buttercup. Natural habitats are moist woods, thickets, and meadows. The bright, glossy, yellow flowers are borne from tall hollow stems. Blooms from April - July. The native plant can get to a height of 1-3 feet. Pollinated by flies and bees.

Trillium grandiflorum (Trilliaceae)

Great White Trillium. Native of Eastern North America. Many have the opinion that these native trilliums are the showiest flowers of any wildflowers. The nodding “great white” flowers gradually turn reddish-pink with age. Six to eight weeks after the bloom period, round berries are produced. Blooms from May - June.

Arisaema triphyllum (Araceae)

Jack-in-the-pulpit. Natively found in moist woods from Nova Scotia to North Dakota, south to Texas and Florida. The spadix and sheath are nature's design to attract the pollinator which is the fly. Shape of the large green tri-parted foliage and the color of the striped mahogany spathe can vary from plant to plant. Blooms from May - June.

Convallaria majalis (Liliaceae)

Lily-of –the-Valley. This rhizomenous native wildflower spreads. Convallaria is best known for its strong fragrance. The drooping white flowers bloom from May - June. Lee Garden has the rose-pink variety, C. majalis var. rosea, which is just as beautiful and fragrant.

Primula sieboldii (Primulaceae)

Primrose. Clusters of white pom-pom flowers are grown next to a mass of Bloodroot foliage. Fantastic combination! Blooms mid to late May.

Primula Candelabra hybrids (Primulaceae)

Candelabra Primrose. Whorls of tiered flowers on long flower stems perfectly represent its hybrid name. These hybrids can grow to a height of 12”-24”. Blooms late April.

Epimedium sp. (Berberidaceae)

Barrenwort. This is one of many Epimedium species that can be found along the winding paths of the garden. Most Epimediums grow easily in well-drained soil in shade. Blooms late April.

Caltha palustris (Ranunculaceae)

Marsh Marigold. Native of Ireland, Spain, Siberia, Japan, and North America. Commonly found by streams, wet alder woods, or in marshes hence the common name. Glossy marigold-like flowers emerge above the densely mounded shiny foliage. Usually found in mass groupings. Blooms from March - June.