Wildflower Phenology

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A local Wildflower Phenology

Phenology is the study of the chronological occurance of natural events. In this case, we are compiling a list of when various flowers begin to bloom in NE Ohio. Dawes Arboretum in Newark, OH has produced one for their collection; several others are listed at the Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas site.

Growing concerns around global warming have spurred an increasing interest in recent years. Some folks believe that, like canaries in a coal mine, wildflowers might provide an early warning of climactic change. With your help, we can assemble a listing specific to our area. I'll be updating the list as the season progresses, please contribute!

Common Name	Scientific Name	First seen	Location	Last seen
Skunk Cabbage	Symplocarpus foetidus	2/24	Rocky River Metroparks
Coltsfoot	Tussilago farfara	2/24	South Chagrin Reservation
Spring Cress	Cardamine bulbosa	3/3	Rocky River: Stinchcombs
Harbiner-of-spring (Pepper-and-salt)	Erigenia bulbosa	3/8	Rocky River: Mastic	4/10
Lesser Celendine	Ranunculus ficaria	3/8	Rocky River: Mastic
Purple Dead Nettle	Lamium Purpureum	3/9	Lakewood (urban)
Common Chickweed	Stellaria media	3/23	Rocky River (urban)
False Rue Anemone	Isopyrum biternatum	3/24	Rocky River: Mastic
Spring Beauties	Claytonia virginica	3/31	Lake Metroparks Hogback Ridge
Purple Cress	Cardamine douglassii	4/2	CVNRA: Jaite
Dandelion	Taraxacum officinale	4/3	Stongsville (urban)
Cut-leaved Toothwort	Dentaria laciniata	4/9	Rocky River: Mastic
Bloodroot	Sanguinaria canadensis	4/11	Newbury Township
Sessile Trillium (Toadshade)	Trillium sessile	4/11	Rocky River: Mastic
Myrtle (Periwinkle)	Vinca minor	4/12	Rocky River: Rockcliff Springs
Sweet White Violet	Viola blanda	4/13	Lakewood (urban)
Common Blue Violet	Viola papilionacea	4/13	Lakewood (urban)
Blue Cohosh	Caulophyllum thalictroides	4/13	Rocky River: Rockcliff Springs
Dutchmen's Breeches	Dicentra cucullaria	4/14	Rocky River: Rockcliff Springs
Trout-lily	Erythronium americanum	4/14	Rocky River: Rockcliff Springs
White Dog-toothed violet	Erythronium albidum	4/15	Rocky River: Rockcliff Spring
Round-leaved violet	Viola rotundifolium	4/15	Newbury Twp, Chagrin valley
Field Pussy-toes	Antennaria neglecta	4/16	Newbury Twp, Chagrin valley
Squirrel Corn	Dicentra canadensis	4/17	Rocky River: Mastic
Virginia Bluebell	Mertensia virginica	4/17	Rocky River: Mastic
Ground Ivy (Gill-over-the-ground)	Glechoma hederacea	4/17	CVNRA: Station Rd.
English Daisy	Bellis perrenis	4/17	Fairview Park
Drooping Trillium	Trillium flexipes	4/18	Rocky River: Mastic
Purple (Ill-smelling)Trillium	Trillium erectum	4/18	Rocky River: Mastic
Large-flowered Trillium	Trillium grandiflorum	4/18	Rocky River: Mastic
Round-leaved Ragwort	Senicio obovatus	4/18	Rocky River: Mastic
Shepherd's Purse	Capsella bursa-pastoris	4/18	Rocky River: Mastic
Garlic Mustard	Alluarua officinalis	4/18	Rocky River: Mastic
Dwarf ginseng	Panax trifolium	4/19	Newbury Twp, Chagrin valley
Hairy solomon's seal	Polygonatum pubescens	4/19	Newbury Twp, Chagrin valley
Hedge Mustard	Sisymbrium officinale	4/19	Strongsville (urban)
Early Buttercup	Ranunculus fascicularis	4/20	Rocky River: S. Mastic
Downy Yellow Violet	Viola pubescens	4/20	Rocky River: S. Mastic
Wild Blue Phlox	Phlox divaricata	4/20	Rocky River: S. Mastic
Wild Geranium	Geranium maculatum	4/20	Rocky River: S. Mastic
Cream-colored violet	Viola striata	4/20	Rocky River: S. Mastic
Rue anemone	Anemonella thalictroides	4/20	CVNRA: Boston Run
Bluets	Houstonia caerulea	4/20	CVNRA: Boston Run
Long-spurred violet	Viola rostrata	4/21	CVNRA: S. of Red Lock
Miterwort	Mitella diphylla	4/21	CVNRA: S. of Red Lock
Bugle	Ajuga reptans	4/21	CVNRA: S. of Red Lock
Small-flowered Crowfoot	Ranunculus abortivus	4/21	CVNRA: S. of Red Lock
Golden Alexander	Zizia aptera	4/24	Rocky River Metropark
Toothwort	Dentura diphylla	4/26	Rocky River Metropark
Star Chickweed	Stellaria pubera	426	Rocky River Metropark
Virginia Bluebell	Mertensia virginica	4/27	CVNRA: N. of Red Lock
Periwinkle (Myrtle)	Vinca minor	4/27	CVNRA: N. of Red Lock
Dame's Rocket	Hesperis matronalis	4/27	CVNRA: N. of Red Lock
Jacob's Ladder	Polemonioum van-bruntiae	5/5	Rocky River Metropark
Common Cinquefoil	Potentilla simplex	5/5	Rocky River Metropark
Thyme-leaved Speedwell	Veronica serpyllifolia	5/5	Rocky River Metropark

Thanks to Nancy Piltch, Linda Kimmy and Jane McCullam for their contributions to this project.

Reporting Form

We appreciate your help in reporting sightings of wildflowers in our area. Even if there's alreay an entry in our table, don't hesitate to send in your report. To contribute to our listing, please fill out the following information and press the SUBMIT button.

Common Name:
Scientific Name:
Date:
Location:
Your Name:
Your Email:
Notes