Hepatica maxima

Family - Ranunculaceae
Category - Perennial
Origin - Japan, Korea
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H4
Height - 15cm
Width - 20cm
Location - The Woodland Walk

Description: A small, clump-forming Perennial with a mounding habit. Mid to bright green, trifoliate leaves have rounded leaflets with silky white hairs around the margins. Small, bowl to star-shaped flowers are white to pale blush pink, each with a green button centre. Each Bloom is subtended by 3 large, green leaf-like Bracts. The flowers are produced from late winter into early spring and are followed by clusters of shiny black seeds.
Hepatica maxima has the largest leaves of the genus, each capable of reaching to 15cm across.

Synonym - Hepatica nobilis var. maxima

Flower:

Small star-shaped flowers are white, occasionally with hints of blush pink, and each bloom has a green button eye. Each bloom is subtended by 3 large, green bracts. The flowers are held singly and produced in February and March. The blooms are followed by clusters of shiny black seeds.

Flower colour: White, pink

Flower shape: Bowl to star-shaped flowers held singly

Flowering time: February, March

Foliage:

Mid to bright green, trifoliate leaves have rounded leaflets with white silky hairs along the margins. Hepatica maxima has the largest leaves of the genus, each capable of reaching to 15cm across. The leaves are held at the base of the plant, and retained through the winter. A new crop of leaves is produced once the flowers have finished.

Foliage Senescence: Evergreen

Foliage Shape: Trifoliate with rounded leaflets

Propagation:

Division, seed.

Cultivation:

Best in a sheltered position in rich, fertile soil that is moisture retentive, but well drained.