Short-lived but plentiful
Spring wildflowers are beginning to peek out
Few things are more hopeful than a lovely and delicate wildflower poking up from the ground on a chilly day in early spring.
Although often overlooked, Ohio’s ephemeral spring blooms are as much a wonder as the more spectacular and lusty colors of mid-summer gardens or the bittersweet fireworks of fall foliage. And they come at a time when many of us are emerging from a winter funk and in real need of a pick-me-up.
But searching out and beholding spring wildflowers does take a bit of effort — travelers won’t see many while zooming down an interstate.
Many of the state’s spring wildflowers are found growing on the moist and rich soil of forest floors, taking advantage of the extra light that’s available before the deciduous trees leaf out.
Parks and nature preserves offer best viewing
Fortunately, Ohio has plenty of state and local parks and nature preserves where the early beauties reside, said Andrew Gibson, an assistant botanist at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
“Ohio really does have a wealth of biodiversity,” Gibson said.
“Regardless of where you live in the state, you’re not far from a place where you can get out and take a hike” to see spring flowers, he said.
Ohio’s state nature preserves may be less well-known than its state parks, but travelers searching for the earliest blooms would do well to search them out, Gibson said.
“I’d argue that while (state nature preserves) might be smaller, they are usually specifically protected because of their habitat and wildlife.”
The warmer days that Ohio has experienced in late March have caused a surge in early wildflowers, Gibson said.
“It’s the days when the sun hits the soil that makes (spring flowers) pop quickly,” he said.
“And the southern half of Ohio should really be popping,” he said.
Where and when to see wildflowers
The spring show begins in the south and advances northward as Ohio heats from bottom up, like a tea kettle.
There are several likely sites in southern Ohio to see the earliest blooms.
“Whipple (State Nature Preserve in Adams County) is definitely one we recommend,” Gibson said.
“Also, Davis Memorial and Shoemaker (preserves) in Adams County, Lake Katharine (preserve) in Jackson County and, of course, Shawnee State Forest (in Scioto and Adams counties), where you can see the flowers even when you’re driving through in your car.”
In central Ohio, Gibson recommended, among other sites, state nature preserves at Clifton Gorge in Greene County, Davey Woods in Champaign County, Shallenberger in Fairfield County, and Conkles Hollow in Hocking County.
“Up north, try Goll Woods (State Nature Preserve) in Fulton county; it’s an old-growth forest,” Gibson said.
He also recommended nature preserves at Eagle Creek in Portage County, Johnson Woods in Wayne County, and Mohican-memorial State Forest in Ashland County, among others.
Don't miss the state wildflower
One of the first wildflowers to emerge each spring is skunk cabbage, but don’t let the name put you off. This bold plant, like a (slightly smelly) scout, is among the first to arrive on the scene, poking its leaves up through marshy lowlands and shallow ephemeral pools, soon to be joined in the woods by snow trillium, hepatica, bloodroot and the appropriately named harbinger of spring (Erigenia bulbosa, also known as pepper and salt).
The species of spring flowers vary from region, depending on the type of soil and other factors, Gibson said.
But one wildflower to look for wherever you go in Ohio is the large-flowered trillium.
“It’s the official state wildflower and it’s big, beautiful and found in all 88 counties,” Gibson said.
The trillium can often be found in late April and early May.
In all, Ohio has more than 170 species of spring wildflowers, Gibson said.
Enthusiasts can find a checklist of the species online at www.ohiodnr.gov/wildflowers.
The website also includes a wide variety of other wildflower information, including the places they grow and how to identify them.
Also at the site, Gibson writes about what’s growing and where. His wildflower blog will be updated each Friday through mid-may, when the blooms wind down as the leaves and shadows grow.
By the end of May, the thickening canopies have pulled the curtain on the yearly show.
Steve Stephens is a freelance travel writer and photographer. Email him at sjstephensjr@gmail.com.