Spring Ephemeral Wildflowers
We love being in the woods during each season, but forests in the spring are magical! A month before most trees leaf out, the beautiful Spring ephemeral wildflowers make their fleeting return. There is no better way to be reminded that the world is coming out of winter dormancy than to be greeted by these lovely blooms that grace our forest floors each Spring.
How well do you know your wildflowers?
Large White Trillium
Red Trillium
Bloodroot
Cutleaf Toothwort
Spring Beauty
Yellow Trout Lily
Dutchman's Breeches
Azure Bluet
Learn more about these Spring Wildflowers
Find these fleeting flowers on your own
The word “ephemeral” means transitory or quickly fading. These spring plants pop up early to take advantage of the sunlight that penetrates through the bare branches of the deciduous forest. Soon, the trees will leaf out and our Spring ephemeral wildflowers will quickly set seed before returning to dormancy. In Western PA, our bloom occurs during the last two weeks of April. Listed below are some favorite places to find these small, dainty flowers. Remember to practice the Leave No Trace Principles any time you are in nature. Please never pick wildflowers. The early insects need the flowers to live and picking them does a disservice to us all. Yes, they’re beautiful, but take a picture. It’ll last longer, and the flower will fulfill its essential role in the early spring ecosystem, helping ensure the food supply for all of us.
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