Sharp-lobed Hepatica
(Hepatica acutiloba)

Description: Flowers appear very early in spring, and seem to come from nowhere out the leaf litter, pushed up on hairy stalks. Flower colour is variable, and can be blue, white or pink.

Habitat: Mature deciduous woodland.

Height: 5 cm

Flowering: March - 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

Bluets
(Scilla siberica)

Description: A popular spring flower in gardens, it has invaded natural areas where it can form large clumps. After flowering in early spring, it quickly dies back and lives underground as a bulb until the next spring.

Habitat: Gardens, woodlands.

Height: 10 cm

Flowering: May - April

Periwinkle
(Vinca minor)

Description: Also called Myrtle, this invasive groundcover, originally from Madagascar, has spread from gardens into natural areas. The asymmetric petals give the flowers a "pinwheel" shape.

Habitat: Gardens, woodland.

Height: 25 cm

Flowering: March - June

Wild Geranium
(Geranium maculatum)

Description: Leaves are hairy, and when crushed smell spicy and not unpleasant. Prefers open shade, such as trail edge.

Habitat: Open woodlands, shady areas.

Height: 50 cm

Flowering: May - June

Wild Ginger
(Asarum canadense)

Description: This low-growing plant of deeply shaded forests has a distinctive tri-lobed, purple flower that grows at ground level, between two fuzzy leaf stalks. The flower is easily missed if covered by leaves.

Habitat: Moist, rich soils in shady woodlands.

Height: 25 cm

Flowering: April - May

Violets
(Viola spp.)

Description: The familiar violets come in a range of flower colours, not just purple. An enlarged lower petal acts as a landing pad for insects, and the delicate stripes guide them into the nectar contained in a spur.

Habitat: Deciduous woodland.

Height: 10 cm

Flowering: March - June