Hepatica americana

Common Names

Round-Lobed Hepatica, Liverleaf, American Liverleaf, American Liverwort

Summary

Hepatica americana, commonly known as Round-lobed hepatica, is a native eastern North American herbaceous perennial in the Ranunculaceae family. It forms a low-growing clump with evergreen, three-lobed, leathery leaves and produces solitary flowers on hairy stems; flowers are blue, white, pink, or lavender, and what resemble petals are actually six to ten sepals set in front of three green bracts, with seeds later dispersed by ants via an elaiosome. For cultivation, it prefers partial shade to shade with moist, well-drained soils (acidic preferred), is hardy in USDA zones 3–9, and can be propagated by division or by seed (seed germination may take long; may self-seed in optimum conditions; generally low-maintenance). It is valued ornamentally for spring blooms and is suitable for woodland gardens and naturalized shade plantings, where it can form attractive drifts.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-9 inches

Spread

6-9 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun; Partial Shade to Full Shade.

Soil Type

Moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil with leaf mold, pH 5.5–7.0

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained soils

Soil pH

5.5-7.0, slightly acidic to neutral, tolerates mildly acidic to mildly alkaline soils

Bloom Color

Blue, Lavender, White, Pink, Purple

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Purple

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, flies, beetles, and butterflies