Leaf
Jean-François Molino, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0
Hepatica
Hepatica nobilis
Also known as: Liverleaf, Kidneywort
Family: Ranunculaceae
10 to 15 cm tall
Light woodland, shady gardens, cool chalky soils
Flowering: February – April
Part shade
Shade
Hardy to -25°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Its three-lobed leaves, which recall the shape of the liver, earned it its name and its traditional medicinal uses.
🍃 Leaves
Evergreen, three-lobed, leathery, dark green, often marbled
🌸 Flowers
Small blue-violet, pink or white flowers, appearing before the new leaves
🍎 Fruits
Small hairy achenes
🪵 Bark
Short rootstock, compact basal clump
🗺️ Distribution
Europe; found in light chalky woodland, fairly localised in France.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Blue-violet flowers among the very first of the year, rich in pollen for the first bees.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Shady rockeries, woodland; early flowering at the end of winter, much sought after by gardeners.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
Mildly toxic (protoanemonin, like members of the buttercup family); irritant to the skin and mucous membranes if eaten.
🌿 Other Ranunculaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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