Common Name: hepatica
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Ranunculaceae
Native Range: Romania, Slovakia
Zone: 4 to 7
Height: 0.50 to 0.75 feet
Spread: 0.50 to 0.75 feet
Bloom Time: February to March
Bloom Description: Pale blue to bright blue
Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Flower: Showy
Culture
Best grown in rich, humusy, consistently-moist but well-drained soils in part shade. Soils must not be allowed to dry out. Remove old leaves as needed immediately before late-winter/early spring flowering. Propagate by division or seeds. Plants may self-seed in optimum growing conditions.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Hepatica transsilvanica, commonly known as large blue hepatica or liverleaf, is a clump-forming perennial that typically grows to 6-9” tall. It is native to mountainous areas of eastern Europe, primarily in Romania. Three- to five-lobed, hairy, semi-evergreen leaves have toothed margins. Large, anemone-like, pale blue to bright blue flowers (each to 1 1/2” diameter) bloom late winter to early spring (February-March). This is one of the first of the spring wildflowers to emerge. Plants will spread in the landscape over time by creeping rhizomes.
Genus name comes from the Greek word hepar meaning the liver. This is a double allusion to the color and shape of the leaves suggesting they would be good for complaints of the liver.
Specific epithet is in reference to the tableland region of northwestern Romania known as Transylvania where this plant is native.
Each three-lobed leaf reportedly resembles a liver hence the common name of liverleaf which is generally applied to genus plants.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Best naturalized in large sweeps in woodland or native plant gardens. Plants typically thrive in shady areas under deciduous trees and large shrubs. They also perform well in shaded areas of rock gardens.