Okay, I’m jumping ahead a bit with this one. I intended to talk about Skunk Cabbage, since it’s one of the earliest native bloomers, and I will, as soon as I can get a picture of one peeking out of all of this snow. It is truly a harbinger of spring.

Another, later harbinger (if that is possible), is Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), which is the first native to pop out of the ground in my yard. Peeping out from between the brown oak leaves, their white flowers are the first I see (besides the non-native snowdrops and crocuses that can also be found in various spots in my yard) in the spring, and cause not a little giddiness that late winter is over.

Bloodroot is a perennial which gets its common name from the orange juice its roots exude when you break them. The stem also exudes this orange sap when broken. This sap was used by native Americans as a dye, and they also used it as an herbal remedy, but since it has been shown to be toxic to animal cells, it is recommended to limit your exposure to the sap.

When it blooms in late March to early April, the flowers come up first, a single flower per stem. They open up to reveal eight to 12 white petals with yellow reproductive organs. The flowers don’t last long after pollination (by small bees and flies) though, especially if the days are warm, and drop their white petals as their leaves unfold. Their leaves are about 3 to 5” in diameter, with undulating edges, and these leaves persist into the summer, forming a unique base texture for a garden. In time, the plant forms seed pods that are about 1” long. The pods split open and drop out round seeds that are carried away by ants to their homes, where they can germinate and spread their range.

Another fun, early bloomer is the Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides). Unlike the Bloodroot, this little plant has multiple small leaves, multiple blooms, and blooms over an extended period of time, extending from April into June. Like the bloodroot, its flowers are white, although they can also have some pinkish to lavender hue as well. It has a very fine structure, and gets to about 9” tall. It is also a perennial ephemeral. This plant grows in open woods as well, although it is often found in more upland areas.

Together, these two perennials form a great twosome for spring blooming, and are fairly easily found as you take a walk around the woods in early spring. Enjoy nature, everyone!

Rick is a local landscape architect with a special interest in all things natural, including native plants and the critters that eat them. You can contact him at yourland1824@gmail.com.