(Symplocarpus foetidus)
Description:
Habitat: Swamps in deciduous woodland.
Height: 15 cm
Flowering: March - April
Spring Wildflowers of Toronto
- Green flowers
- Skunk-cabbage(Symplocarpus foetidus)
By generating heat from a chemical reaction, the Skunk Cabbage thaws the surrounding ground and emerges very early in spring. A tough, leaf-like "spathe" protects and hides the yellow, club-shaped "spadix" covered in tiny flowers. - Jack-in-the-pulpit
(Arisaema triphyllum)
Description:
This curious plant grows in moist, rich woodland soils. The light green spathe (the "pulpit") partly encloses and covers the spadix ("Jack") which is covered with tiny flowers. Habitat: Moist areas in mature deciduous woodland.
Height: 40 cm
Flowering: May - June
- Blue Cohosh
(Caulophyllum thalictroides)
Description:
The petals on the leaf-like flowers have nectaries that attract early spring insects such as solitary bees. By late summer the leaves have died back and only the blue berries remain. Habitat: Rich, deciduous woods.
Height: 50 cm
Flowering: April - May
- Skunk-cabbage
- White flowers
- Bloodroot
(Sanguinaria canadensis)
Description:
The bright white flowers and the distinctively lobed leaves of Bloodroot are a welcome sight in early spring. The red sap that flows from cut stems or roots is a strong dye. Habitat: Mature deciduous woodland.
Height: 15 cm
Flowering: April - May
- Mayapple
(Podophyllum peltatum)
Description:
In May, a pair of umbrella-like leaves unfolds, sometimes expanding to dinner-plate size. Below, at the fork of the two stems, a single white flower forms. It transforms into a pale yellow fruit that is pulpy when ripe. Habitat: Rich deciduous woodland.
Height: 50 cm
Flowering: May - June
- White Trillium
(Trillium grandiflorum)
Description:
Our provincial wildflower provides a spectacular sight in spring as it carpets the forest floor in white. Plants have leaves in "threes", and the flower has 3 petals and 3 sepals. Habitat: Mature deciduous woodland.
Height: 20 cm
Flowering: April - May
- White Baneberry
(Actaea pachypoda)
Habitat: Rich, deciduous woodland.
Height: 50 cm
Flowering: May - June
- Foamflower
(Tiarella cordifolia)
Habitat: Rich, moist woodlands.
Height: 30 cm
Flowering: May - June
- Wild Strawberry
(Fragaria virginiana)
Description:
Years ago our native strawberry was used as breeding stock to help create the cultivated varieties we enjoy today. Although the Wild Strawberry's fruit is quite small, it is an important food for wildlife. Habitat: Forest edge, open woodlanmds, old fields.
Height: 10 cm
Flowering: May - June
- Garlic Mustard
(Alliaria petiolata)
Description:
Named for the strong garlic scent of its crushed leaves, this plant has escaped gardens, invaded woodlands, and now threatens to displace native wildflowers. Habitat: Prefers moist, shady or semi-shade, such as along woodland trails, forest edge.
Height: 1 m
Flowering: May - June
- Wild Sarsaparilla
(Aralia nudicaulis)
Habitat: Dry woodlands.
Height: 40 cm
Flowering: May - June
- Canada Mayflower
(Maianthemum canadensis)
Habitat: Conifer, mixed hardwood/conifer forests.
Height: 25 cm
Flowering: May - June
- Garden Lily-of-the-valley
(Convallaria majalis)
Habitat: Gardens, open woodland.
Height: 15 cm
Flowering: May - June
- False Solomon's Seal
(Maianthemum racemosum)
Description:
The long, arching stems have a terminal spray of fragrant flowers which becomes a cluster of wine-coloured berries by late summer. Habitat: Deciduous woodland.
Height: 70 cm
Flowering: May - June
- Starry False Solomon's Seal
(Maianthemum stellatum)
Description:
A spray of white, six-pointed flowers is borne at the end of the stem which supports the lance-shaped leaves. Habitat: Deciduous woodland.
Height: 60 cm
Flowering: May - June
- Hairy Solomon's Seal
(Polygonatum pubescens)
Habitat:
Height: 70 cm
Flowering: May - June
- Bloodroot
- Red/pink flowers
- Purple Trillium
(Trillium erectum)
Description:
Despite the dramatic wine-coloured petals, this plant can be overlooked in spring as the flowers droop and blend in with the leaf litter. A pungent, unpleasant fragrance tricks pollinating insects into visiting the flower. Habitat: Mature deciduous woodland.
Height: 30 cm
Flowering: April - May
- Columbine
(Aquilegia canadensis)
Description:
This short-lived perennial usually grows as single plants scattered throughout wooded slopes and rocky areas. Each flower petal tapers to a spur filled with nectar which attracts bumblebees and hummingbirds. Habitat: Prefers the edges of woodland, and sandy soils rather than rich humus soils.
Height: 50 cm
Flowering: May - June
- Prairie Smoke
(Geum trifolium)
Habitat: Prairies.
Height: 40 cm
Flowering: May - June
- Rose Twisted-stalk
(Streptopus roseus)
Description:
The deep-pink, bell-shaped flowers have recurved petals and hang singly from the leaf axil by a long, bent flower stalk. The broad, oval leaves are alternately arranged along the zigzag stem. Habitat: Conifer and mixed woods.
Height: 40 cm
Flowering: May - June
- Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty
(Claytonia virginica)
Description:
The delicate flowers striped with dark pink, are truely ephemeral and last just a few days. Flowers close when temperatures drop at night and on cloudy days. Habitat: Rich, deciduous woodland.
Height: 10 cm
Flowering: April
- Purple Trillium
- Blue/purple flowers
- Sharp-lobed Hepatica
(Hepatica acutiloba)
Description:
The hairy flower stalks of Hepatica push up through the leaf litter in early spring, before the leaves appear. Flower colour is variable, and can be blue, white or pink. Habitat: Mature deciduous woodland.
Height: 10 cm
Flowering: April - May
- Ground Ivy
(Glechoma hederacea)
Description:
Forms creeping mats on the ground (hence the alternative name "Creeping Charlie"). The leafs smell minty when crushed. Habitat: Open, sunny areas such as old meadows, dry woodland, roadsides.
Height: 5 cm
Flowering: May - July
- Scilla
(Scilla siberica)
Habitat: Gardens, woodlands.
Height: 10 cm
Flowering: May - April
- Periwinkle
(Vinca minor)
Habitat: Gardens, woodland.
Height: 10 cm
Flowering: March - June
- Wild Geranium
(Geranium maculatum)
Description:
This pink-flowered plant prefers lightly-shaded woods. The leaves are hairy, sometimes blotched, and when crushed they have a spicy scent. Habitat: Open woodlands, shady areas.
Height: 40 cm
Flowering: May - June
- Wild Ginger
(Asarum canadense)
Description:
The unusual tri-lobed flower grows at ground level, and is easily overlooked under the broad, luxuriant leaves. Large clumps of Wild Ginger can be found in deeply-shaded deciduous forests. Habitat: Moist, rich soils in shady woodlands.
Height: 25 cm
Flowering: April - May
- Sharp-lobed Hepatica
- Yellow flowers
- Large-flowered Bellwort
(Uvularia grandiflora)
Habitat: Woodland.
Height: 30 cm
Flowering: May - June
- Marsh-marigold
(Caltha palustris)
Description:
Both the flowers and leaves are shiny, due to a waxy coating. The flower is unscented and has no nectar, but its bright yellow colour is a magnet for nearly 40 insect species. Habitat: Grows in marshy areas and along streams.
Height: 40 cm
Flowering: April - June
- Trout Lily
(Erythronium americanum)
Description:
The mottled leaves are said to resemble the speckling on a trout. Plants spread by rhizomes and can form extensive patches. Only the large plants with two leaves flower; single-leaved individuals are sterile. Habitat: Deciduous woodland understorey.
Height: 15 cm
Flowering: April - May
- Bluebead-lily
(Clintonia borealis)
Habitat: Woodland.
Height: 25 cm
Flowering: June
- Early Meadow Rue
(Thalictrum dioicum)
Habitat: Dry, rocky woodland.
Habitat: Dry woodlands.
Height: 40 cm
Flowering: May
- Downy Yellow Violet
(Viola pubescens)
Habitat:
Habitat: Deciduous woodland.
Height: 20 cm
Flowering: April - May
- Coltsfoot
(Tussilago farfara)
Description:
This introduced plant prefers wet, disturbed slopes. It is often mistaken for Dandelion, but Coltsfoot flowers earlier and the flower stalk is thick and scaly. Habitat: Open, sunny areas such as old fields, roadside.
Height: 15 cm
Flowering: March - May
- Dandelion
(Taraxacum officinale)
Description:
The bright yellow flower quickly transforms to the familiar fluffy "ball" of seeds which disperse in the slightest breeze. Introduced from Europe, it readily colonizes disturbed habitats. Habitat: Open, disturbed land, especially mowed areas.
Height: 20 cm
Flowering: April - September
- Black Mustard
(Brassica nigra)
Description:
Flowers have four petals arranged in a cross-shape. Tolerates poor soils, and colonizes fields and disturbed sites. Introduced from Europe. Habitat: Widespread, especially open areas.
Height: 1 m
Flowering: June
- Celandine
(Chelidonium majus)
Description:
Celandine is introduced from Europe and thrives in damp sites on the edges of woodland. The hairy stem breaks easily and exudes a bright orange sap. Habitat: Grows on damp ground, banks, hedgerows and by walls.
Height: 50 cm
Flowering: May - August
- Large-flowered Bellwort