Spring has more or less sprung, and the earliest harbingers of the season, alongside the returning birds and early sunshine, are the spring ephemeral wildflowers. These are a special kind of wildflower typically found in woodlands in the early weeks of spring. As their name suggests, they appear for a brief window of time before they recede for the season.
These plants take advantage of the sunshine afforded by the lack of leaves in the tree canopy in early spring. They emerge from the ground, produce leaves, bloom and then set seed, all before the canopy develops above them. Once the leaves of the forest have emerged and shaded out the forest floor, the above-ground parts of these plants die back for the season and won’t be seen again until the next spring. The following plants are a few common examples of spring ephemeral wildflowers, including one problematic invasive species.
One of the earliest examples of these fleeting woodland flowers is Trillium nivale (snow trillium). The plant is so-named because of its propensity to bloom while snow is either on the ground or likely to still fall. It’s not unusual to see their three-petaled blossoms poking through early spring snow on wooded hillsides. Unfortunately (depending on one’s perspective), as one of the first bits of fresh foliage for the season, these are frequently browsed by hungry grazing animals.
Snow trillium is one of the earliest spring ephemerals to bloom in woodlands and can be seen in the Arboretum’s Dayton Wildflower Garden. Photo by Jake LaVigne
Another group of early ephemerals is the trout lilies. The name comes from their mottled leaves’ vague resemblance to the coloration of a brook trout, and has nothing to do with their flavor. At the Arboretum, we are proud to care for several populations of the endangered Erythronium propullans (dwarf trout lily). These minuscule spring wildflowers are endemic to only three counties in Southern Minnesota and have been a federally endangered species since 1986. Their more common relative, Erythronium albidum (white trout lily), can form enormous colonies and provide spectacular spring displays.
The mottled leaves of trout lilies lend them their name. Photo by Jake LaVigne
Among the more conspicuous spring ephemerals found at the Arboretum is Mertensia virginica (Virginia bluebells). Their bright blue and purple blooms provide an excellent early food source for a wide variety of pollinators, including bumblebees and hummingbirds. These plants do well in a damp environment and can often be found in low-lying ditches or other areas prone to flooding. They’re also a highly mobile and unpredictable species whose populations vary in scale and location from season to season.
Virginia bluebells provide an early season food source for pollinators. Photo by Jake LaVigne
Not every ephemeral wildflower is a welcome or well-behaved member of the forest. Scilla siberica (Siberian squill) is a minor bulb that, despite its name, is not native to Siberia. Originating from Turkey, the Caucasus region and Southwestern Russia, it was introduced like so many invasive plants as an ornamental and has since escaped cultivation. Due to its ephemeral nature, it is often overlooked as a threat to native species because its visible above-ground tissues die back so early in the season. Its underground bulbs, however, can easily displace native ephemerals due to their ability to reproduce rapidly. Grazing animals show little to no interest in squill, preferring native vegetation, further enabling them to multiply unimpeded.
Arboretum staff and volunteers are working to remove squills, especially in areas where they could impact native plants. Photo by Jake LaVigne
Find spring ephemerals at the Arboretum in the Grace B. Dayton Wildflower Garden, located near the Sensory Garden and accessible from Three-Mile Walk.
Cover photo of spring ephemeral hepatica by Don Olson
Jake LaVigne is a gardener at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum who has worked with the Natural Lands team since 2017. He helps to maintain the Bennet-Johnson Prairie, the Dayton Woodland Wildflower Garden and the Johanna Frerichs Garden for Wildlife. When he isn't helping native plants to thrive, he strives to keep invasive species at bay. In his spare time, Jake writes fiction, plays board games and is teaching himself taxidermy.