Wikimedia Commons
Ranunculaceae
Liverwort
Hepatica nobilis
Confidence, trust, and the first breath of spring.
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Genus
- Hepatica
- Native to
- Europe, eastern North America, Asia
- Bloom season
- Early Spring
- Type
- herbaceous perennial
- Height
- 10–15 cm
- Sunlight
- part shade to full shade
- Soil
- humus-rich, well-drained woodland soil
- Water
- medium
- Hardiness
- 4–8
- Lifespan
- perennial; very long-lived
Did you know
- The genus name Hepatica comes from the Greek 'hepatos' (liver) because the three-lobed leaves resemble a liver.
- Under the Doctrine of Signatures, medieval herbalists believed the liver-shaped leaves could treat liver ailments.
- It is one of the very first wildflowers to bloom in spring, often pushing through snow.
- In Japan, hepatica cultivars are highly prized collectors' items, with rare forms selling for hundreds of dollars.
- The flowers open on sunny days and close at night or during overcast weather to protect their pollen.
Color meanings
Blue
confidence and trust
White
innocence and new beginnings
Pink
gentle hope