Identification
Hepatica blossoms arise in early spring on fuzzy, 4-6 in. stems. The leaves, which grow from ground level on hairy stems after the flower has blossomed, are 3-lobed, rounded and evergreen until the following spring. The flowers are ½ to 1 inch across. There are 5 to 12 petal-like sepals, usually 6, and numerous white stamens surrounding a green center. Petal color ranges from violet to white, sometimes pinkish. Behind the flower are 3 large hairy bracts each up to ½ inch long, oval to egg-shaped with a blunt or rounded tip.
This is an early spring wildflower that is usually found in woodlands. This flower and several more were found in the wildflower garden at Neale woods in the spring of 2016. It is west of its usual range and was probably planted there. It is found throughout Iowa. Note that in 2021 the Neale Woods Nature Center building was dismantled and the adjacent garden, the site of this plant, removed. A native prairie restoration is planned for this area.
The genus name refers to the 3-lobed leaf that supposedly bears a resemblance to the liver. Because of this, early herbalists assumed the plant to be effective in treating liver ailments. It is also known as liverleaf or liverwort. Hepatica triloba is a synonym for this plant.
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