Plant of the day is: Hepatica nobilis var. nobilis or liverleaf

Plant of the day is: Hepatica nobilis var. nobilis or liverleaf

IF you do NOTHING else with this.  Click this link and check out these absolutely brilliant flowers!

Hepatica Display

So this is the true Hepatica nobilis Mill.  NOT the Hepatica nobilis Schreb. which is a synonym for Anemone hepatica.  Sometimes I like taxonomy, then there are things like this...oye!

I'm blue.

Taxonomy/rant:  I was actually a little bleh on this today and was lacking some inspiration until I came across this one in a list. And as I continue to hunt through this taxonomical nightmare, I lose a bit more.  This is where I can really go down a rabbit hole of taxonomy.  Hepatica is often included in the genus Anemone but there are several similar genus in Hepatica sharing very similar names here and there and everywhere and when you really dig into it, your head starts to spin a bit.  It is a member of the buttercup family or Ranunculaceae.  Whatcha gonna do with all that Rununculunc?

The particular variety I'm TRYING to reference should be the European one.  Many variations in color and flower forms are available.  The Japanese variety of this, var. japonica, has been in cultivation for quite some time, and there are some very beautiful selections available.

There IS actually a native version of this as well, it's pretty neat that the genus is so similar across such a wide swathe of the planet.

Description:  Leaves are basal, generally leathery and three lobed.  The common name liverleaf references the leaves looking kind of like a liver.  Seems a stretch to me.  Naturally it was used medicinally because of the Doctrine of signatures which is yeah, apparently a thing.  Humans.  It is poisonous in large doses.  I can't recommend it.

3 bracts, sometimes larger than the petals.  Neat.

Flowers are bisexual, I've seen anywhere from 6 to 10+ petals.  The flowers are solitary on pubescent peduncles (say that five times fast).  Flowers occur in winter to early spring.

Awwwww

Culture:  Hepatica are pretty adaptable.  They are hardy in US zones 4-8, have a penchant for limestone, and can exist in drier sunny places as well as a fair bit of shade.  In general, especially for Saint Louis climates, I would recommend some shade and a decent amount of water depending on soil type.  They can reportedly handle clay soils but make sure you don't over water.  For small areas here and there I should say go showy and pick whatever cultivar you fancy.  For larger swathes in naturalized areas there is a dandy of a MO native species Hepatica americana with white flowers that is a sure stunner once established.

Anyways, there are LOTS of beautiful Hepatica out there, you'd be crazy not to look at some of them.