Spring Ephemerals

Spring ephemerals are long-lived plants with a very short life cycle or period of active growth. Annette Shrader has found a grand collection of spring blooming ephemerals with interesting form and outstanding color at Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh North Carolina.

Plants Featured in this Clip

Mertensia virginica (Virginia bluebells)
Erythronium americanum spp. harperii
Thalictrum thalictroides (rue anemone)
Asarum arifolium var. callifolium (little brown jugs)
Podophyllum peltatum (Mayapple)
Trillium delicatum (Ocmulgee trillium)
Dentaria laciniata (cutleaf toothwort)
Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot)
Arisaema thunbergia ssp. urashima (Jack-in-the-Pulpit)

Gardener Extras

Spring ephemerals are beneficial in soil retention and reducing water run-off.
Asarum flowers attract flies and beetles, which are the pollinators, and ants eat the fleshy part of the seeds and help spread to new locations.

Annette Shrader

Born and raised on a farm, I’ve always appreciated the smell and feel of fresh earth. When we purchased our home 35 years ago, it had some land, but not a single flower. I began the process of plotting and planning garden beds and borders, and have not stopped. Looking out at this mature landscape, it gives me a sense of accomplishment here in my own botanical garden. On her producer role with Volunteer Gardener, Annette says “These are treasured experiences. The passion that people have for their gardens sends me home feeling refreshed, and challenged.