Plant
of the Month
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March 2005
Hepatica
nobilis
by Harold McBride
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Hepatica nobilis
© Harold McBride
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When I first grew this attractive woodlander in my
garden it was known as Anemone hepatica, later
its name was changed to Hepatica triloba and
more recently the name Hepatica nobilis has become
accepted. Despite all its name changes, I consider it
to be the perfect plant for semi-shaded areas of the
garden where it requires a humus-rich, moist but well
drained soil.
H. nobilis makes an excellent inhabitant for
a raised-bed or trough where its elevated position makes
it easier to fully appreciate its delightful early spring
flowers, the first flowers usually appear along with
snowdrops in early February with a peak flowering period
in early March.
I propagate H. nobilis by division soon after
flowering has been completed or seed sown as soon as
it is ripe, seedlings appear in first spring after sowing
and reach flowering size in their third year. H.
nobilis is found in limestone woods throughout central
Europe. I have sought it in several sites but the flowers
have always been blue, although many colour forms and
double flowered varieities with cultivar names are available
from the specialist nursery trade.
Most of these new colours and forms originate from
Japan where they have become a cult plant changing hands
at huge prices! My favourite colour form is var. rubra.
When I have sown seed from this plant approximately
25% of the offspring were coloured as the seed parent
and the remainder, a selection of pinks etc. I advise
that you always see the plant in flower before you purchase.
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Hepatica nobilis var.
rubra
© Harold McBride
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Additional notes on Hepatica
nobilis
by Mary Toomey
Hepatica nobilis is an herbaceous dome-shaped
perennial found growing in rich, moist woods. It enjoys
a wide distribution in central Europe, in Japan and
Korea, and in North America. The roots are stout (rhizomatous)
and much-branched. The basal semi-evergreen to evergreen
and somewhat fleshy leaves can grow to 10 cm in length,
and each leaf has 3 lobes. The flowers, which appear
in early spring, continuing into late spring are solitary
and usually have 6 regular petals and may be rich blue
or pink. The flower stems are leafless except that there
are three hairy leaflets found just beneath each flower.
Plants tend to exhibit a great amount of variability
in leaf shape, leaf mottling, flower colour and shape.
Further recommended reading:
- Hinkley, Daniel J. 1999. The Explorer's Garden
- Rare and Unusual Perennials. Timber Press. 76
- 84.
Contributor
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 Harold
McBride gardens at Lisburn, Co. Antrim.
His garden is devoted to the cultivation
and propagation of alpine plants. Around
70% of his garden plants have been grown
from seed, many from seed collection by
AGS, SRGC, NZAGS and NARGS.
The garden has featured on many TV programmes
and plant publications, including the Royal
Horticultural Society journal 'The Garden'.
Harold has travelled widely to seek out
plants in many of the world's mountains
and lectures internationally including USA,
New Zealand and many countries of Europe.
He has served as Chairman of the Ulster
Alpine
Garden Society Group and the main AGS
committee. He is currently a Vice President
of the AGS.
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Photo Credits
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All photos courtesy of Mr. Harold McBride.
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