Wildflowers of the Eastern WoodlandsDeciduous forests cover much of the eastern United States, gradually giving way to coniferous forests farther north and grasslands to the west. Dominated by deciduous trees, eastern forests typically have several vertical layers of vegetation, including a dense, upper canopy of mature trees; a subcanopy of smaller or immature trees; and an understory of shrubs and low-growing herbaceous plants. Many woodland wildflowers, called spring ephemerals, bloom before the trees have leafed out; other species, which can tolerate partial or complete shade, flower later. The species in this collection comprise some of the most common spring wildflowers in eastern deciduous forests. |
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Thumb | Species | Characteristics | ||
Actaea rubra Red Baneberry |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade Water: Moist |
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Anemone quinquefolia Wood Anemone, Nightcaps, Windflower |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Shade, Part-shade Water: Moist |
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Aquilegia canadensis Eastern Red Columbine, Wild Red Columbine |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Shade, Part-shade Water: Moist, Dry |
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Aralia nudicaulis Wild Sarsaparilla |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Subshrub Light: Sun, Shade Water: Moist |
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Arisaema triphyllum Jack In The Pulpit, Indian Jack In The Pulpit, Jack-in-the-pulpit |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Shade Water: Wet, Moist |
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Caltha palustris Yellow Marsh Marigold, Cowslip |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Shade, Part-shade Water: Wet, Moist |
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Claytonia caroliniana Carolina Springbeauty |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: Wet, Moist |
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Clintonia borealis Bluebead, Yellow Bluebead-lily, Clintonia, Blue-bead Lily |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Shade Water: Moist |
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Cornus canadensis Bunchberry Dogwood, Canadian Bunchberry |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade Water: Moist |
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Cypripedium acaule Moccasin Flower, Pink Lady's Slipper |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Shade, Part-shade Water: Moist, Dry |
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Cypripedium parviflorum Yellow Lady's-slipper Orchid, Lesser Yellow Lady's Slipper |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: Wet, Moist |
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Cypripedium reginae Showy Lady's Slipper |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Water: Moist |
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Dicentra cucullaria Dutchman's Breeches |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade Water: Moist |
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Erythronium americanum Yellow Trout-lily, American Trout-lily, Eastern Trout-lily, Yellow Dogtooth Violet, Adder's Tongue |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: Moist |
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Geranium maculatum Spotted Geranium, Wild Geranium, Cranesbill |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Shade, Part-shade Water: Moist |
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Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa Roundlobe Hepatica, Round-lobed Hepatica, Liverleaf |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Shade, Part-shade Water: Moist, Dry |
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Linnaea borealis Twinflower, American Twinflower |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade Water: Wet, Moist |
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Maianthemum canadense Canada Mayflower, False Lily-of-the-valley |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Shade, Part-shade Water: Wet, Moist |
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Maianthemum racemosum Feathery False Lily Of The Valley, False Solomon's Seal, Feathery False Solomon's Seal, False Spikenard, Solomon's Plume, Smilacina |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Water: |
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Podophyllum peltatum Mayapple, Indian Apple, Wild Mandrake, Pomme De Mai, Podophylle Pelt |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Shade, Part-shade Water: Moist |
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Polygala paucifolia Gaywings, Fringed Polygala, Flowering Wintergreen |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Water: Moist |
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Sanguinaria canadensis Bloodroot |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Shade, Part-shade Water: Wet, Moist |
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Silene virginica Fire Pink, Scarlet Catchfly |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: Moist, Dry |
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Tiarella cordifolia Heartleaf Foamflower, Heart-leaf Foamflower |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Shade Water: Moist |
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Trientalis borealis Starflower |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Shade Water: Moist |
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Trillium cernuum Whip-poor-will Flower, Nodding Trillium, Nodding Wakerobin |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Shade Water: Moist |
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Trillium erectum Red Trillium, Red Wakerobin, Stinking Benjamin, Wet Dog Trillium, Wet Dog Wakerobin, Purple Trillium, Purple Wakerobin |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: Moist |
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Trillium grandiflorum White Wake-robin, White Trillium, Large-flower Wake-robin, Large-flower Trillium, Large-flowered Wake-robin, Large-flowered Trillium |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade Water: Moist |
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Trillium undulatum Painted Trillium, Painted Wakerobin |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Shade Water: Moist |
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Uvularia grandiflora Largeflower Bellwort, Large-flower Bellwort, Merrybells |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Shade Water: Moist |