Ontario Wildflowers website

Sharp-lobed Hepatica
Anemone acutiloba

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba) Other common names: Liverleaf, Sharp-lobed Liverleaf

Other scientific names: Hepatica acuta, Hepatica acutiloba

French names: Hépatique á lobes aigus

Family: Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae)

Group: Hepaticas

Similar species:
  •   Round-lobed Hepatica (Anemone americana) - Leaves are rounded at the ends.


Flowers: Spring;  White, Red/Pink, Blue/Violet;  6 parts (petals)

Leaves: Lobed, Entire

Habitat: Forests

Grows in Sun/Shade: Sun

Lifespan: Perennial.  

Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 338    Peterson's Field Guide to Wildflowers: 22, 238    ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario: 351   

Native/Non-native: Native

Status: Very common.

Photography notes: After a long winter, Sharp-lobed Hepatica flowers are a treat to the eye, and it is difficult to not take many photos of them each and every spring!

Photographs: 360 photographs available, of which 10 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba)

Sharp-lobed Hepatica flowers bloom quite early in the spring, often before their leaves are out. This flower is blooming at the beginning of April.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba)

Sharp-lobed Hepatica flowers can also be white, and the number of petals varies widely.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba)

Side view of a flower.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba)

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba)

Back view of a Sharp-lobed Hepatica flower.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba)

Sharp-lobed Hepatica flowers just opening.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba)

A backlit view of developing seeds.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba)

Sharp-lobed Hepatica leaves are pointed at the tip. It is this feature that identifies this species, and differentiates it from Round-lobed Hepatica (Anemone americana).

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba)

Sometimes the leaves are variegated.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba)

A nice patch of Sharp-lobed Hepatica after a spring rain.


Range map for Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)