SHARP LOBED HEPATICA
Hepatica acutiloba
SKU: 641-005
Description
Hepatica (hepatica, liverleaf, or liverwort) is native to central and northern Europe, Asia and eastern North America. Some botanists include Hepatica within a wider interpretation of Anemone.
Bisexual flowers with pink, purple, blue, or white sepals and three green bracts appear singly on hairy stems from late winter to spring. Butterflies, moths, bees, flies and beetles are known pollinators.
The word hepatica derives from the Greek hepaticus, because the three-lobed leaf was thought to resemble the human liver. The leaves are basal, leathery, and usually three-lobed, remaining over winter (evergreen).
Noted for its tolerance of alkaline limestone-derived soils, Hepatica may grow in a wide range of conditions; it can be found either in deeply deciduous (especially beech) woodland and scrub or grassland in full sun. Hepatica will also grow in both sandy and clay-rich substrates, being associated with limestone. Moist soil and winter snowfall is a requirement; Hepatica is tolerant of winter snow cover.
Hepatica cultivation has been popular in Japan since the 18th century.
Type: Hardy perennial
Hardiness zones: 4-9
Location: Sun or shade
Height: 8"
Seeds per pack: 5
Germination: Start these seeds right away to preserve viability, no matter the time of year. These seeds need a series of cold periods to break dormancy. Sow the seeds just under the surface of a sterile seed-start mix, and water in. Cover them with plastic to retain moisture, and then place in a fridge for 4 weeks. Then bring them to room temperature (20-22 °C, 68-72 °F) for 2 weeks. They will not grow yet. Then another cooling period is required. Cover them with plastic and place in a fridge for another 6 weeks. Be sure they stay moist. After the cold-moist stratification period they are then brought back to room temperature for them to germinate. Germination is in 14-60 days after the warming period, sometimes longer. If possible, the best location for sowing is outdoors in cold frame or a cold greenhouse, where they germinate naturally after the second winter.
Description
Hepatica (hepatica, liverleaf, or liverwort) is native to central and northern Europe, Asia and eastern North America. Some botanists include Hepatica within a wider interpretation of Anemone.
Bisexual flowers with pink, purple, blue, or white sepals and three green bracts appear singly on hairy stems from late winter to spring. Butterflies, moths, bees, flies and beetles are known pollinators.
The word hepatica derives from the Greek hepaticus, because the three-lobed leaf was thought to resemble the human liver. The leaves are basal, leathery, and usually three-lobed, remaining over winter (evergreen).
Noted for its tolerance of alkaline limestone-derived soils, Hepatica may grow in a wide range of conditions; it can be found either in deeply deciduous (especially beech) woodland and scrub or grassland in full sun. Hepatica will also grow in both sandy and clay-rich substrates, being associated with limestone. Moist soil and winter snowfall is a requirement; Hepatica is tolerant of winter snow cover.
Hepatica cultivation has been popular in Japan since the 18th century.
Type: Hardy perennial
Hardiness zones: 4-9
Location: Sun or shade
Height: 8"
Seeds per pack: 5
Germination: Start these seeds right away to preserve viability, no matter the time of year. These seeds need a series of cold periods to break dormancy. Sow the seeds just under the surface of a sterile seed-start mix, and water in. Cover them with plastic to retain moisture, and then place in a fridge for 4 weeks. Then bring them to room temperature (20-22 °C, 68-72 °F) for 2 weeks. They will not grow yet. Then another cooling period is required. Cover them with plastic and place in a fridge for another 6 weeks. Be sure they stay moist. After the cold-moist stratification period they are then brought back to room temperature for them to germinate. Germination is in 14-60 days after the warming period, sometimes longer. If possible, the best location for sowing is outdoors in cold frame or a cold greenhouse, where they germinate naturally after the second winter.
