Spring Ephemerals

Spring ephemerals are plants on a mission. They awake, leaf out, bloom and set seed all before the heat of summer begins to settle in. Then they quietly slip back into a long slumber to wait for the following spring. 

It's hard not to feel a twinge of panic when ephemeral plants appear to be withering away each summer. Rest assured that the tubers, rhizomes and roots of these plants are tucked safely away underground, where they are resting in the cool shade of perennials that follow them. Their brief appearance has provided enough nutrients to keep them going until they next awake.

Let's take a look at a few of them:

Trilliums are one example of a spring ephemeral.

Trilliums growing in David Tomlinson's garden, Merlin's Hollow.

Large Flowering Trillium, Trillium grandiflorum is a wildflower native to Ontario. They have white flowers with three petals which are held aloft on a stem containing a whorl of three leaves. Their flowers are pollenated by ants, flies and beetles. 

Trilliums are spring ephemerals that require patience. They can take up to 7 years to go from seed to flower. As the flowers fade, they turn from white to a soft pink. Trilliums require moist, well-drained, slightly sandy soil that is rich in organic matter. Full to part shade. Height: 20-50 cm (7-19 inches) USDA Zones: 4-9.

Trillium luteum in the garden of Marion Jarvie, Thornhill, ON.

The leaves petals and sepals of Trillium luteum also come in groups of three. The flower has three erect yellow petals with three greenish sepals. They also have a faint lemon scent. 

Trillium luteum in the garden of Marion Jarvie, Thornhill, ON.

Trillium luteum is a clump forming plant with underground rhizomes that will gradually increase in size and spread slowly. The hosta-like foliage will die to the ground by mid-summer, especially if the soil is on the dry side. Plant this trillium in rich, moist, humus soil. Part-shade to full shade. Height: 20-50 cm (7-19 inches) Spread: 30-45 cm (12- 18 inches) USDA Zones: 4-8.

This is Bloodroot that I brought home last summer from my Mom's garden. I love the way the flowers emerge wrapped up in leafy grey-green arms. This plant gets its name from the bright reddish-orange sap it exudes when it has been cut.

Up the street from where I live there is a huge colony of Bloodroot and blue Scilla that has colonized a damp wooded area. The carpet of tiny blue and white flowers is the most marvellous sight each May.

Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis has white, daisy-like flowers and deeply scalloped, grey-green leaves. As the flower blooms, the leaves unfurl. The flowers open in the sunlight and close at night. Over time Bloodroot can spread and make large colonies. Bloodroot is best grown in rich, well-drained soil. Part-shade to full shade. height: 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) Spread: 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) USDA Zones: 3-8.

Single vs Double Bloodroot

There is a double form of Bloodroot as well. Double Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis f. multplex has sterile flowers and blooms longer than the native single Bloodroot.

Trout Lily, Erythronium americanum

There is a wild patch of tiny Erythronium in the vacant lot next door to our house. I have noted that the little colony appears to bloom sporadically. This is probably because it takes four to five years for Erythronium to go from seed to flower. The corms of these wildflowers are small and crocus-like in comparison with the larger sausage-sized corms of modern hybrids.

Trout Lily, Erythronium americanum derives its name from its fleshy, mottled foliage. They have bell-shaped flowers in May. Erythronium americanum has bulb-like offsets that are easy to break off and plant.

These are the larger hybrids blooming in my garden. Erythronium 'Pagoda' is a more vigorous plant than its wild cousin. It is literally twice the size of the little wildflowers.

Erythronium 'Pagoda' has bright green, fleshy leaves with maroon markings. The leaves disappear shorty after the plant finishes flowering. Like their wild relatives, these hybrids like rich soil and a cool, damp spot in dappled shade. USDA Zones: 4-9.

Rue anemone or Wood Anemone, Anemonella thalictroides is native to the eastern part of North America. It has delicate white flowers and pretty green leaves. Like so many spring ephemerals, this plant likes the dappled shade of deciduous trees and rich, loamy soil that is slightly moist. They bloom for a period of about six weeks and then the plant goes dormant especially if the areas where it is planted is hot and dry. Height: 30-45 cm (12-18 inches), Spread: 7-15 cm ( 3-6 inches). USDA Zones 5-9.

Dutchman's Breeches, Dicentra cucullaria: The common name Dutchman's Breeches refers the the distinctive shape of the white flowers. This plant has lovely, grey-green, fern-like foliage (which rabbits dislike). It can be grown in average, well drained soil, but Dutchman's Breeches much prefers rich, loamy soil that is slightly moist. Dry soil will cause the plant to go dormant more quickly. Part to full shade. Height: (6-12 inches), Spread: (6-12 inches). USDA Zones: 3-7.

Virginia Blue Bells, Mertensia virginica are one of my favourite spring flowers. I love the mix of the pinkish flower buds and the baby-blue flowers. They like rich, loamy soil and part-shade. Once established they are pretty tolerant of dry conditions in summer. Virginia Blue Bells will naturalize in a woodland setting by self-seeding. If you want to divide them, do it in the fall. Height: 30-60 cm, Spread: 30-45 cm. USDA Zones: 2-9.

Shooting Star, Dodecatheon pulchellum in the garden of Marion Jarvie, Thornhill, ON.

Trust expert plantswoman Marion Jarvie to have something super cool like this Shooting Star, Dodecatheon meadia in her Thornhill, Ontario garden. When I visited last May, they seemed very happy on the outer edge of her garden pond.

Shooting Stars are a native North American wildflower. They have a low rosette of long narrow leaves and flowers on long, slender stems. The petals of the flower flare back giving the plant its common name. Fading flowers are replaced by fruit that dry into a woody seed pod each fall.

Shooting Star, Dodecatheon meadia 'alba' is a short-lived perennial that takes a year or so to flower. Typically they put on their best display in year three and then they disappear. Plant it in rich, moist soil. Full sun to part-shade. Height: 20-30 cm ( 8-12 inches), Spread: 15-20 cm (6-8 inches). USDA Zones: 2-9.

Shooting Star, Dodecatheon meadia in the garden of Marion Jarvie, Thornhill, ON.

Caring for your Spring Ephemerals: 

Spring ephemerals are woodland plants, so its best to choose a spot that offers dappled sunlight in spring and shade in summer. These plants like well-drained, slightly acidic soil, mulched with shredded leaves.

These plants have evolved to take advantage of warming soil and plentiful spring rain. Though they like spring moisture, they are quite drought tolerant once they enter their summer dormancy. To conserve moisture mulch in fall with shredded leaves. Fertilizer applied just as the flower buds appear can encourage a longer, better display of flowers.

Plant spring ephemerals in amongst other plants that will fill in as spring warms into summer. Hostas and ferns are two good choices.

One of the biggest challenges with spring ephemerals is to remember where they are planted once they go dormant. It's a good idea to find a way to mark their location, so you don't disturb these lovely spring beauties.

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The Garden in Early May

In some respects, the garden seems to have been holding its breath and waiting for the right moment. The first days of mid-May were hot and sunny, but there wasn't much in the way of rain. 

Then on Monday night, we had a late evening thunderstorm, followed by a heavy downpour. The rain continued through the night and into the next day.

Now all of a sudden, it seems that everything is richly green. Tentative leaves have shy no more! The hosta which have been holding themselves in reserve; their leaves stiffly upright, have relaxed and unfurled. 

The black flies seem to have eased, but now carnivorous brown mosquitoes patrol the flowerbeds in their stead.

My favourite thing of the moment is this birdbath by the back door. The play of textures 

never fails to delight me.

Rose Mossy Saxifrage, saxifraga x arendsii rose selection

Though it seems that the garden has been holding back, the procession of spring bulbs seems to have sped by at hyper speed. I had loads and loads of the prettiest all-white daffodils. Do you think I got a chance to take a single picture? No, not a blessed bloody one!

Even these white tulips by the back gate blew fully open before I had a chance to snap a picture of them.

Virginia Blue Bells

Generally speaking, I stuck with the color scheme I devised for my bulbs last fall: red and yellow bulbs at the front of the house, white just inside the back gate, a variety of pinks, white and yellow in the main part of the backyard and yellow, white and mauve in the circle garden at the very back.

But as you can see here I messed up a bit and planted some of the mauve tulips in with the pinks. 

Oh well, I guess I'll have to fix this odd mix of colors for next spring.

Euphorbia Polychroma

Love the deep red of these primroses.

The garden at the very back of the yard.

Ostrich Ferns

That's a Buddha in the background meditating under the shade his red umbrella (Japanese Maple).

I have more of these dark maroon geraniums that I know what to do with! 

They are all just starting to flower.

Our crabapple looked glorious for a few days, but now the rains have carried 

off all the sweetly fragrant flowers.

There are many more pictures, but I will spare your patience and save them for another post.

Color Essay Number 12: Singing the Blues

A shop in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia painted a warm shade of blue 

and yes, it was in the middle of nowhere.

You may not favor blue, but is there anyone out there who actually dislikes the color blue? If anything, I think most gardeners wish there were more blue flower options. 

This is a good time of year to be talking about the color blue, because in my spring garden, blue makes its strongest statement. 

Without further delay, here are some of great blues, both in my garden, and elsewhere as noted.

Virginia Blue Bells in early spring

Robin's eggs in a nest

Lungwort, Pulmonaria is amongst the first blue flowers to bloom in my garden. After the flowers are finished, the plant has great spotted leaves.

Speedwell, Veronica filformis is an excellent ground cover that doesn't mind the part shade of my back garden. The plant has a tight, low mass of bright green leaves and blue flowers in May and June.

Bugleweed, Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow' at Lost Horizons Nursery, Acton Ontario

 A close-up of the flower: Bugleweed, Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow'. There are lots of varieties of bugleweed (Chocolate Chip is a favourite). The plant can get a bit invasive, so choose its location carefully (preferably a spot where it can only go so far).

Another ground cover that I noticed recently at Humber Nursery is Veronica whitleyi. It has grey green foliage and baby-blue flowers in May and June.

A close-up of one of my bearded irises.

If you want more blue in your garden, definitely consider irises!

A favorite bearded iris that straddles the dividing line between blue and purple.

I now have a few varieties of Siberian Iris. The variety shown above was here on the property when we moved in. I find the flowers a bit small to be honest. I actually prefer some of the newer varieties that I have recently added.

This is 'Maynight' Sage. It likes sun, blooms June to August, and tolerates dry soil. I actually prefer Meadow Sage Salvia Nemerosa 'Caradonna', because it has purplish stems and a deeper, more purple flower. (Unfortunately, I didn't have a picture of this second variety.) I find if you deadhead this plant, you will get a second show of flowers.

Fireworks onion, 'Allium pulchellum' at the Lucy Maud Montgomery Garden, Norval, Ontario

Before we go to much further into the summer season, lets pause to consider some blue-colored annuals.

'Heavenly blue' Morning glory. I find that you need to have just the right spot for morning glories. They like morning sun only. They wilt and look very pathetic, if they are left to cook in the afternoon sun.

Though common, I think Salvia, 'Victoria Blue' (Salvia farinacea) deserves a quick mention

 in this blue post. Massed, it made a nice, late-season statement in this public park in Brampton, ON.

'Summer Skies' a pretty blue variety of 'Pacific Giant' delphinium.

Russian Sage, Perovskia, 'P. Atriplicifoia' is a plant that I have been struggling with. It likes a hot, dry, sunny spot- which I don't have, and hates good garden soil and lots of water--which I do have. Unless you provide it with good drainage, it will disappear over winter. I am not willing to give up just yet, because the plant is a beauty in the mid-summer garden. Larger varieties are huge at 24-36" tall, but there is also a more compact variety as well. This is the Garnet Garden in Oakville, Ontario. They have a spectacular view of the lake.

Sea Holly, Eryngium like lots of sun and light, sandy loam. They tolerate drought and hate to be moved      (case in point- I lost mine and now have to shop for a new plant). The one pictured here is from the Garnet garden in Oakville, Ontario.

Globe Thistle is a bee magnet. They grow about 2-5 feet in height and have grey-green, spiny-edged leaves. Mine puts up with half shade, but would much prefer full sun. Another good feature of this plant is that they are drought resistant.

Just a quick reminder that not everything blue in a garden is always floral.

A blue Rose of Sharon in the late summer. Private garden, Georgetown, Ontario.

I couldn't leave out Asters. 

I apologize- I am not sure of the name of this shrub--I believe it is called Caryopteris of Bluebeard or Blue Spirea. Here in Ontario it is only winter hardy with lots of protection. I only have managed to keep them for a few years and then they perish in a harsh winter. They are pretty little shrubs though and bring blue into the garden late in the summer. This one was shot at Edwards Garden in Toronto.

Here it is in a flower border at Edwards Gardens, Toronto.

Juniper berries carry the color blue into the winter season.

I think many gardeners wish there were more types of blue flowers. Nurseries sometimes answer this demand by dying white flowers blue. Here is a blue poinsettia, by way of example. What do you think? Is this poinsettia carrying our love of the color blue a bit too far?

Here's hoping for a few days of warm spring weather, so we can all get out there and garden. Have a wonderful weekend!