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Tennessee Native Plant Society
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Native Plant of the Month
January, 2009
Round-lobed Hepatica
Hepatica americana
One of the first woodland wildflowers to bloom each spring, sometimes flowering in late February or early
March. Two species of Hepatica occur in Tennessee and are separated by leaf shape. In H. americana the
lobes of the leaves are rounded, whereas those of H. acutiloba are pointed. Also, the flowers of this species
tend to be bluish instead of white as in Sharp-lobed Hepatica. Both species are found in the eastern 2/3 of
Tennessee, but H. americana is usually found on acidic soils, whereas H. acutiloba favors basic soils. The
leaves are evergreen and often mottled. During the winter, they take on a reddish-brown cast, and along with
the 3-lobed shape give rise to another common name - Liverleaf.
Hepatica americana
One of the first woodland wildflowers to bloom each spring, sometimes flowering in late February or early
March. Two species of Hepatica occur in Tennessee and are separated by leaf shape. In H. americana the
lobes of the leaves are rounded, whereas those of H. acutiloba are pointed. Also, the flowers of this species
tend to be bluish instead of white as in Sharp-lobed Hepatica. Both species are found in the eastern 2/3 of
Tennessee, but H. americana is usually found on acidic soils, whereas H. acutiloba favors basic soils. The
leaves are evergreen and often mottled. During the winter, they take on a reddish-brown cast, and along with
the 3-lobed shape give rise to another common name - Liverleaf.
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