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Early Summer Wildflowers – Waterleaf
The early spring wildflowers are undoubtedly spectacular. They are beautiful and also bring us the
promise that winter is nearly over and the summer is not too far away. A woodland walk in April often
reveals a garden of blooms. As the tree leaves unfold and the forest floor becomes darker, the number
of blooming wildflowers in the forest decreases. Most early summer wildflowers are found along
roadsides, in fields, or in lawns. But there are still a few wildflowers that can be found in the forest
during late May and early June.
One wildflower that often attracts the attention of early summer woods walkers is the waterleaf
(Hydrophyllum). The plant takes its name from the lighter colored spots on the leaves that appear as
though they were faded by water. Not all members of the genus have this characteristic and the water
spots fade as the leaves age.
Waterleaf can be found through the northeast quarter of the United States and well into eastern
Canada. The most common species in northeast Ohio is the eastern waterleaf, but several other species
occur in Ohio including the blunt leaf or Canadian waterleaf, the appendaged waterleaf, and the great
waterleaf. The eastern waterleaf is also called Shawnee salad or Virginia waterleaf. The name Shawnee
salad comes from the fact that the leaves are edible, either raw or cooked. The leaves become
increasingly bitter with age, so spring leaves are the most palatable. Eating wild plants can be
dangerous; be certain of the plant’s identity before tasting a wild plant.
The flowers of eastern waterleaf are lilac in color but they sometimes fade to a white color, particularly
if they are in a sunny area. The flowers are in a cluster at the top of a stalk. The petals are fused into a
tubular bell-shaped structure and they have a frilly appearance due to the long stamens that extend
beyond the petals. The leaves have prominent veins, toothed edges and are deeply lobed. The depth of
the lobes is one way to distinguish among the species.
Waterleaf is among many native plants that can be grown in home gardens. It is a perennial, grows
fairly slowly, and can be propagated by division of its rhizome during its dormant period. They are wellsuited to shady areas. You can purchase them from nurseries or buy seeds online. As is the case for all
wildflowers, you should not dig them from the wild unless they are in an area that is to be cleared for
development. Waterleaf is of special value to native pollinators, particularly bumble bees.
Waterleaf prefers moist areas. In wetland designations, it is known as a facultative species, meaning
that it can be found in both wetland and upland areas. I find it most often in valley floors and along
streams.
Find time to take a woodland walk during late May or early June. If you take your time and look carefully
you should be able to find several species of wildflowers in bloom.
PHOTO
Eastern or Virginia waterleaf blooming alongside a trail at the Huston-Brumbaugh Nature Center in May.
Photo by C. McClaugherty