Blooming in the Bog

Visit this page often as we keep it updated all spring and summer with the weekly bloomers at Cedar Bog.

Blooming

This is a guess of what should be blooming given the weather.

Skunk Cabbage Symplocarpu foetidus Arum family. Skunk Cabbage is the first bloomer at Cedar Bog and Cedar Bog is one of the best places in Ohio to you can see Skunk Cabbage. This is the only plant the burns both carbohydrate and fat for energy. This allows Skunk Cabbage to produce temperatures up to 60 degrees and melt the snow to be the first spring bloomer. Skunk cabbage is named for the rotten odor that it produces to attract wasps for pollination. Blooms: February-May. Native.

 

Round-lobed Hepatica Hepatica americana Family: Buttercup Location: Eastern-Central Woodlands Fact:  Hepatica was named for it's three lobed leaf. At one time it was believed that plants could be used medicinally based on their appearance, and plants with three lobed leaves like hepatica where assumed to have beneficial properities for the three lobed organ the liver. Heptatica petals can be white, lavendar, pink, or pale blue. Native. Blooms:  March-June.

 

Spice Bush Lindera benzoin Family: Laurel Location:  Throughout Fact:  This shrub is found throughout the bog. It's bark and leaves have been used for teas through the years. Native. Blooms:  March-April.

 

Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris Family: Buttercup Location: Throughout but Mostly in Swamp Woods Fact: Marsh Marigold AKA Cowslip. Actually a Buttercup and not a Marigold. Marsh marigolds can easily be confused with Lesser Celandine which is another early bloomer that loves marshy areas. To easily tell the two apart count the petals. Marsh marigolds have 5 petals, while Lesser Celandine has 5-9 petals. Native. Blooms:  April-June.

 

Large-Flowered Bellwort Uvularia grandiflora Family: Lily Location:  Central Woodlands Fact: This plant is similar to Perfoliate Bellwort. Large-Flowered Bellwort is smooth inside with larger yellower flowers; Perfoliate Bellflower is rough inside with orange grains. Native. Blooms:  April-June

 

Rue Anemone Anemonella thalictroides Family: Buttercup Location: Central Woods Fact:  Rue Anemone has leaves that are just like Meadow Rue leaves. This flower does not contain nectar, but instead uses it's color to attract insects for pollination. The flower petals can be white, lavendar, pink, or pale blue just like Hepatica. Native. Blooms:  March-June.

 

Mayapple Podophyllum peltatum Family: Barberry Location:  Southwest Swamp Woods Fact:  Mayapple AKA Mandrake. The leaves, roots, and fruit are poisonous. Native. Blooms:  April-June.