Spring is the time of wildflowers everywhere. The days are now longer, spring rains have reached the soil, and the trees have not yet created their full canopies, meaning the precious sunlight is able to reach the forest floor. Warmth, water, sunlight – it’s the perfect recipe for spring flowers to sprout and bloom!
The flowers I will show below are all native to the United States (where I am from). Some are specifically from the more north-eastern part. However, these plant families have flowers worldwide and I encourage you to share ones from where you are from if it is different!
Liliaceae family – Lilies
There are all sorts of wildflowers that fall into the lily family. White trout lily and yellow trout lily are just two that I come across often. The trout lilies are easily recognizable by their mottled blue-green leaves.
Melanthiaceae family (Liliales order) – Trilliums
Trillium, one of the most signature spring flowers that can dominate a forest floor during this time of year and truly turn it into something out of a fairy tale. Many trilliums have beautiful large white flowers, but there is a purple trillium as well. Trilliums are sometimes called wood lily but although they are in the Liliales order, they are actually in the Melanthiaceae family – the bunchflower family.
Colchicaceae family (Liliales order) – Bellflowers and Crocus
Flowers in the Colchicaceae family actually used to be considered lilies. However, they are unique because they contain alkaloids such as colchicine (hence the name). The American bellflower (not shown) tends to grow later in spring and in summer, but in early spring we have the bellwort with its signature drooping yellow flowers you can see below next to a patch of crocus.
Violaceae family – Violets
Many violets will be blooming from early spring through summer. There are even yellow violets blooming at this time!
Montiaceae family – Spring Beauty
Spring beauty is one of my personal favorites. These small but pretty flowers tend to grow around the base of large trees and they come in shades of pinkish-white. They belong in the Montiaceae family which is referred to as the “miner’s lettuce” family because these plants were often found near mining camps and they are edible.
Ranunculaceae family – Buttercups
Buttercups are a striking yellow in the spring woods. Rue and hepatica, also in the Ranunculaceae family, are a bright white. There are many species of these flowers. Shown below are rue anemone, hepatica, and the bristly buttercup.
Papaveraceae (Ranunculales order) – Poppies
The poppy family is closely related to the buttercup family. The poppy family also has some signature spring wildflowers, including the celandine (wood) poppy, dutchman’s breeches, and the bloodroot flower.
Asparagaceae family – Squills
Squill is yet another strikingly beautiful spring wildflower that comes in deep purple colors but can sometimes be pink or white. Shown below are siberian squill and glory of the snow squill.
Boraginaceae family – Bluebells
The Boraginaceae family is also home to other beautiful flowers like forget-me-nots and borage flowers, but these grow later in the spring and summer. Earlier in the spring, namely in April, we see beautiful bluebells.
Polemoniaceae family – Phlox
Phlox is another one of my favorites. Their notched petals and flat appearance come in all kinds of colors. Shown below is moss phlox – interestingly, this species can be confused with marijuana due to its similar smell.
There are so many more spring flowers, but these are some of my favorites. In the future I may come back and add more!
If you liked this blog, be sure to check out my blog on the remarkable wildflowers blooming in February!