UGA Cooperative Extension

Union County Extension Office:
Agriculture & Natural Resources

Native Plants Bloooming

PLANTS BLOOMING APRIL 7, 2010

1. Blood Root, Sanguinaria canadensis, this plant was found in a rich mountain cove at elevations above 2500 feet. It has a single leaf having 3-9 lobes and solitary white flower. Native Americans used the plant for body art and as an anti-inflammatory. THE PLANT CAN BE TOXIC.

2. Trout Lily, Erythronium americanum, is a perennial which forms colonies. The plant was found in a rich, north facing mountain cove at an elevation above 2500 feet. The plant has 2 opposite leaves 4-6 inches in length that are a mottled green color. The flowers are yellow, with red spots on the inside. The flowers are also nodding and solitary.

Native Americans used the roots to make a tea to break fevers and juice from the crushed leaves was used to heal wounds.

3. Sweet Betsy, Trillium cuneatum, a whorl of 3 leaves, which are mottled, ovate and 3-7 inches long. This plant was found in a rich north facing cove. The flowers can be maroon, yellow, bronze or green in color. Flowers are solitary and have a fruity fragrance.

4. Round Leaved Violet, Viola rotundifolia, is an early yellow violet that has flowers borne directly from the root stalk. The small flower has brown veins and a lateral beard.

This plants blooms commonly in March and April and can be found at elevations as high as 5,000 feet. The plant prefers shaded moist soil.

5. Hepatica, Hepatica acutiloba, is a member of the butter cup family. It can be found in deciduous woods at elevations up to 3,000 feet. The plant has sharp lobed leaves with flowers ranging from white to pink and purple. The plant grows to 3-4 inches tall.

6. Serviceberry or Sarvis Tree, Amelanchier arborea is a tree or shrub up to 60 feet tall. It is found in rocky slopes, balds and river banks. This particular photograph was taken at an elevation of 2700 feet on a south facing slope. The leaves are glabrous except when young. The flowers are star shaped and white with a tint of pink.

7. Halbeard-leaved Violet, Viola hastata, the leaf blade on this particular violet makes it fairly easy to identify. It reminds me of a Sweet Potato leaf. The plant grows 4 – 10 inches tall. The leaves are spear pointed and mottled with silvery gray areas with yellow flowers. Flowers can be seen in April and May. The plants can be seen in deciduous forest in moist soils. This photograph was taken at an elevation of 2500 feet.

8. Trailing Arbutus, May flower, Epigaea repens of the Heath Family is a creeping shrub 8 – 16 inches in length. This plant has leathery leaves that are evergreen which are 2.5 inches long. The flowers of the plant are white to pinkish. This photograph was taken on a south facing slope in a dry habitat at approximately 2700 feet.