Source: Randy Nonenmacher
Plant Names
Hepatica acutiloba
Sharp-lobed Hepatica
Hépatique à lobes aigus
Synonyms
sharp-lobed liverleaf
Plant Characteristics
Bloom Colour: White
Bloom Period: Apr - May
Max Height: 0.75 feet
Max Width: 0.75 feet
Light Condition:
Less than 2 or 3 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan:
Perennial
plants that will come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
Does not spread uncontrollably
Easy to germinate
Landscape Uses:
Suitable for woodland gardens
Ecological Benefits:
No ecological benefits information available.
Tolerates:
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Special Features and Considerations:
This plant causes skin rashes
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
We currently accept seeds for this plant
Fun Facts
Sharp-lobed Hepatica is one of the earliest woodland wildflowers to bloom in spring. It produces delicate white, pink, or pale blue flowers before most woodland plants emerge. It grows best in rich, well-drained woodland soil with dappled shade and is an excellent choice beneath deciduous trees. It provides one of the first nectar and pollen sources for emerging native bees, mining bees, sweat bees, and small flies. Seeds are Idispersed by ants. It is slow-growing but very long-lived. Avoid disturbing established plants.
Plant Location
Native to Ottawa region: Yes
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Thrives in Ecozones
- Mixed Wood Plains
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Hepatica acutiloba
No butterfly data available for this plant.
Specialized Bees Supported by Hepatica acutiloba
No bee data available for this plant.
Complementary Plants
- Aquilegia canadensis
Red Columbine
Ancolie du Canada - Asarum canadense
Canada Wild Ginger
Asaret du Canada - Hepatica americana
Round-lobed Hepatica
Hépatique d’Amérique - Phlox divaricata
Wild Blue Phlox
Phlox divariqué - Stylophorum diphyllum
Wood Poppy
Stylophore à deux feuilles
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
- Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed)
- Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley)
- Lysimachia nummularia (Creeping Jenny)
- Iridaceae (Crocus)
- Scilla siberica (Siberian Squill)
- Vinca major and Vinca minor (Periwinkle)
- Phlox subulata (Moss Phlox)
- Hedera helix (English Ivy)
- Glechoma hederacea (Creeping Charlie)
Sowing Information
Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
- Sowing depth: Sow just below surface
- Sow anytime
- Stratification duration: 0 days
- Notes: Double dormancy. Sow promptly. Can be kept in fridge up to 2 months.
Harvesting and Seed Sharing
- Harvest start month: May
- Harvesting indicator:
- Seeds easily fall off when you gently pull them off
- Harvesting:
- Use hand to detach from main stem
- Seed viability test:
- No test needed before donating
- Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/8 teaspoon
- Seed storage:
- Keep moist and cool, in a ziploc bag, in the fridge, with the seeds in soil, paper towel or coffee filter, until donation
- Cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
- Remove non-seed material
- No harvesting video available at this time.
Toxicity Notes
Toxicity unknown.
Canadensis