Named forms of Hepatica acutiloba and Hepatica americana and/or collection numbers
There is a large variation within all Hepatica populations, and my opinion is that not every single color/different form should receive a name.
Like with all other genera, only distinct specimens, which stand out from the ‘crowds’ should be named; or at least have a collection number, for the easiness of keeping records and future references (B18 – means BotanyCa2018).
In some case a good name comes fast to mind, but it is not always happening and few will have to wait with just a collection number. I tried to list especially the forms from which seeds are/were offered on a regular base. The number signifies the year when they were first offered (in some cases just for exchanges with friends).
As mentioned many times, there is no guarantee that the seedlings come true to the original forms, so until they flower they should be labeled: H. acutiloba ex. ‘Star Bright’, and so on…. It is quite impossible to test all forms to see how the progenitors will look like.
Hepatica acutiloba
Hepatica acutiloba ‘Star Bright’
Hepatica acutiloba ‘Star Bright’ – Happily growing hidden in the woods, this is an isolated, vigorous specimen of H. acutiloba with two color bright flowers atop long stems. I don’t always manage to collect seeds but they are on offer some years.
Hepatica acutiloba ‘Purple Star’
This form stands out immediately because of the purple, star-like shaped flowers and also particular leaves with very narrow lobes and reliable fall coloration (found among H. acutiloba pastel mix population). It is a form with very good germiantion and the seedlings look very similar to the form.
Hepatica acutiloba white scented (0A-B17)
Hepatica acutiloba 0A-B17; the flowers are white with a lilac sheen when opening and are fragrant. Since 2017, other forms of H. acutiloba with fragrant flowers have been noticed.
Hepatica acutiloba blue (3A-B20)
Hepatica acutiloba with blue-violet flowers; this color is very rare in SW Ontario so if and when seeds are offered they are from the same specimen.
Hepatica acutiloba pastel mix
Hepatica acutiloba pastel mix – a very nice population with flowers in many pastel shades, from light pink to lavender; ‘Purple Star’ and ‘Pearl’, and fragrant specimens were found in the same location.
Hepatica acutiloba pastel mix
Another Hepatica acutiloba pastel mix specimen. I think it is worth growing as many seedlings as possible if space is not a problem; we may have other nice surprises one day.
Hepatica acutiloba white 2A- B18
Hepatica acutiloba 2A-B18, a small population of plants, all with large, white flowers & rounded tepals.
Hepatica acutiloba fo. rosea
This form is recognized in within the color variations of H. acutiloba, so there is no point to name every pink specimen, unless very, very special. The color can vary from light to deeper pink, and some can be fragrant. Vigorous and good, reliable flowering with marbling leaves in the fall.
Hepatica acutiloba ‘Pearl’ (1A-B18)
A Hepatica acutiloba specimen with white or white/blush tinted flowers and multipetal tendency.
Hepatica acutiloba ‘Grace’ (2A-B19)
A lovely light pink form of Hepatica acutiloba with large flowers and multipetal tendency.
Hepatica acutiloba ‘Maiden Blush’
Hepatica acutiloba ‘Maiden Blush’ – as seen, a maiden form with light pink, multi flowers. Cross pollination made easier now :)
Space for a future H. acutiloba specimen :)
Hepatica americana
Hepatica americana
Hepatica americana ‘Butterfly’
A H. americana specimen with a special foliage. Interesting look but insignificant flowers, mostly unisexuate. Maybe a mutated seedling or who knows…When time allows, it would be interesting to cross pollinate it.
Hepatica americana ‘#1’
I named this specimen #1 when I first started to collect Hepatica seeds and such it remained its name. Still one of my favorite forms of H. americana with violet/blue flowers with a narrow white picotee. Vigorous and flowering nicely every year; also with very good germination. The seedlings seem to resemble the mother plant in good percentage.
Hepatica americana ‘Spring Dawn’
A small group (only 3) of similar plants with large (by H. americana standard), light violet flowers with a multipetal tendency. When I first saw them I lost my breath! (the steep slope might have also been a reason). A bit past prime flowering here, when fading the flowers gradually change color like a vanishing watercolor painting.
Hepatica americana – 3a-B18
A delicate Hepatica americana with multipetal tendency. This was a single specimen which unfortunately perished but seeds were offered in 2018/19.
Hepatica americana 2a-B17
Plants with violet flowers and multi tendency, growing among other blue flowered plants. It is too difficult to mark individual plants for seeds collecting, so seeds are included in Hepatica americana blue, regular offering; some of the seedlings should resemble this one.
Hepatica americana ‘Preciosa’ (white/lavender 5a-B19)
Much prettier than the picture can show and a single specimen so I grew a potful of seedlings in the hope of equal or even more beautiful plants.
Hepatica americana bicolor (6a-B20)
Hepatica americana form with mauve flowers with an outside white wide band; a single specimen in the woods which after a few years of consecutive drought wasn’t looking too well last year…
Hepatica americana # 2 (7a-B20)
Hepatica americana#2 in April 2020. Very similar with what was offered a few years ago as H. americana deep blue; maybe it will get a name later, if I manage to maintain alive a small division
Hepatica americana ‘Harlequin’
Hepatica americana ‘Harlequin’: offered as H. americana fo. diversiloba in 2022 . A single specimen drawing attention because of its flowers, randomly white and/or pink. The foliage is even more interesting.
Hepatica americana ‘Harlequin’
H. americana ‘Harlequin’ – seeds of this form were offered in 2022 under H. americana fo. diversiloba. Since this form is not formally correct, I gave it a name. We’ll have to see if the multi-lobed leaves are inherited by the seedlings.
Hepatica americana ‘Purplelicious’
A form with deep purple flowers (no shade of blue); a color rarely seen in Hepatica americana. Seeds were offered first in 2022, open-pollinated of course; we’ll see what comes out of them.
Hepatica americana ‘Apple Blossoms’ (8a-B21)
Seeds offered as Hepatica americana white-pink flares (8a-B21) for a couple of years. Vigorous specimen with white flowers with a pink stripe; in cold mornings this is its usual look before the flowers open :)
Hepatica americana ‘Mihail’
Few seeds offered first in 2022 as Hepatica americana multipetal white; large flowers with a multi tendency; large leaves by H. americana standards.
Space for a next gorgeous specimen :)
Some years seeds of these specimens are offered, but of course in most cases they are limited in number. As a reminder – these forms are all findings in the wild; chance seedlings that appeared and grew by themselves! Growing a large enough quantity of seedlings from ANY nice population offers a chance to obtain, not only the same beautiful specimens but even others more interesting forms! So, especially those new to growing Hepatica from seeds, start with regular H. americana and/or H. acutiloba pastel mix, see how it goes before attempting more expensive forms.
