The delicate liverwort is one of the first signs of spring in the garden and forest. Despite its variety of colors and species, it has become increasingly rare to see in gardens in recent years. It places few demands on care.
For this reason alone, it is worth rediscovering this undemanding early bloomer. The Nature Conservation Foundation chose the liverwort as “Flower of the Year” for 2013.
General information about liverwort
Botanists do not entirely agree on which plant the liverwort belongs to. Some place it in the anemone family, but the majority place it in the buttercup family under the botanical name Hepatica. It is a wintergreen plant and, depending on the location, blooms as early as March. The liverwort is therefore one of the early bloomers. It is slightly toxic and can cause itching or redness when it comes into contact with skin and mucous membranes. The hairy inflorescence shafts, at the end of which the 15-30 mm flowers are located, grow upright above cup-like bracts.
In rainy weather and at dusk, the petals of the liverwort close. Flowering lasts about 8-10 days. Only towards the end of the flowering period do the newly created leaves grow from the rhizome, the top of which is dark green, while the underside has a reddish-purple hue.
Location and soil requirements of the liverwort
Its actual habitat is deciduous forests. Therefore it also finds its ideal place in the garden under deciduous trees. In early spring, when the liverwort is blooming, these trees are still bare and allow sufficient sun to pass through, while in summer they provide the plant with shade. As a deep-rooted plant, it copes well with the roots of trees as it only needs a little water after the flowering period. The liverwort prefers humus-rich, calcareous and loose soil. It is therefore advisable to leave a thin layer of leaves on the bed in autumn so that the soil receives nutrients and remains loose. At the same time, the plant is protected in winter.
If you don't have a garden, you can also plant the liverwort in large pots that should be kept cool and shady in summer. For overwintering, also put a layer of leaves on the plants and wrap the pots with cushioning film or a coconut mat and place them in a protected place.
Occurrence and types of liverwort
The main distribution area of the liverwort is the deciduous forests of the northern hemisphere in Europe, North America and East Asia. There are geographically different species, most of which are now available in good garden centers. It is definitely not advisable to dig it up in the forest, as the liverwort is particularly protected under the Federal Species Protection Ordinance. All varieties that come from the European liverwort are well suited for the garden. North American and Asian species are more demanding and therefore more suitable for enthusiasts. Most liverwort species have single flowers, but there are also double varieties. The color palette ranges from white and pink to violet and light blue. As with hydrangeas, the color can change depending on the soil conditions: if the lime content is high, the flowers tend to be pink, and if the lime content is low, the flowers are light blue. The height varies depending on the variety between 10-25 cm.
European species
- Blue elf, dark blue to violet
- Blue Eyes, light blue
- Blue miracle, dark blue
- Pyrenean star, pure white
- Snow W altz, white with a slight pink tint
- Winter magic, light purple
Asian and American species
While many Asian liverworts are double and come in beautiful colors, the American ones are characterized by smaller flowers and marbled leaves.
- Red late bloomer, dark pink to red
- Manitoba, small white flowers
- Insularis Pink, pink flowers
- Japanese liverwort f lutea, bright yellow
- Japanese liverwort Syonjyouno Homare, purple and white, both double
- Japanese liverwort Murasaki nichirin, light purple
Planting and propagation of liverworts
The ideal planting time for liverworts is early autumn. For the first planting, you should choose the type of liverwort you want from the nursery. If you want a dense planting, around 15-20 plants are needed per square meter, depending on their size. Before planting, loosen the soil well and lightly rake in the finished compost. Then insert the plants, sprinkle some fertilizer around them and water well. To propagate the liverwort, it is best to let it grow undisturbed, as it can react sensitively and die if the plant is divided. If it feels comfortable in its place under the trees, a dense, beautiful carpet will grow over the years through self-sowing.
Overwintering, fertilizing and cutting
As a wintergreen, perennial plant, the liverwort retains some of its leaves throughout the winter, with the survival buds sitting protected in the leaf axils. Ideally, you leave a thin layer of tree leaves on the plants in autumn to protect them from frost. At the same time, the soil can absorb nutrients from the foliage, so little fertilizer is required in early spring. To do this, the leaf layer is carefully trimmed, withered leaves on the liverworts are removed and then the fertilizer or compost is worked in around the plants. Pruning is not necessary for these plants.
Pests and diseases
The liverwort is rarely attacked by pests. Even snails avoid it. The rust fungus can appear on the leaves due to diseases. During the growing season you can try to contain this fungus with a special anti-rust spray. Another option is to cut off all the leaves in spring and spray the buds as a preventive measure.
What you should know about liverwort in brief
The liverwort is a relatively undemanding, perennial plant that delights us with its delicate flowers as early as March. If the plant likes its place, it will sow itself and grow into a dense carpet of flowers. Although the liverwort grows in the shade of trees and therefore on mostly moist soil, snails avoid it.
- The liverwort is protected and may not be picked or dug up in its natural habitat.
- It is one of the deep-rooted plants, which you should consider when transplanting.
- The liverwort loves sparse deciduous forests with beech and oak trees. In the garden, the plant prefers a bright place - but in partial shade. Full sun is not tolerated.
- The soil should be calcareous, alkaline and clayey. It is important that it is permeable. The plant thrives best where snowdrops and March cups also grow.
- The plant must be kept evenly moist, but not wet. It is sensitive to dryness and waterlogging.
- If you plant the liverwort in a planter, make sure that you only water it when the top layer of soil has dried.
- The liverwort takes its time growing and spreading. Conifers don't like it. Falling needles make the soil acidic over time and the plant doesn't like that.
- The old leaves may only be cut off when the new flower buds can be seen. Until then they are needed to produce nutrients for the upcoming shoots. They are also good winter protection. Only cut off wilted leaves from young plants!
- You can also propagate the liverwort by sowing. It is a light germinator, but also a cold germinator with a long germination period. That's why it's best to sow the seeds outdoors immediately after they're ripe.
- The fresh plant contains protoanemonin, which is highly irritating when it comes into contact with the skin or mucous membranes and can cause redness, itching and even blistering.
