PlantFiles: Sharp-lobed Hepatica
Hepatica nobilis var. acuta

Since this plant has some special requirements for germination, I hope the following will be helpful -

1) [HYPERLINK@tomclothier.hort.net] - "Sow immediately outdoors. Short viability seed will germinate in the spring."

2) [HYPERLINK@www.onrockgarden.com] -

a) Fresh seed is best - sow immediately. "Dry storage is fatal, [although] stored seed can be coaxed into germination with temperature cycling and patience."

b) "Expose to fluctuating outdoor winter temperatures including freezing for 3 months (best accomplished by sowing in open ground). Gradually increase light and temperature in spring."

3) from 2nd edition of Norman C. Deno's book, Seed Germination Theory and Practice -

"...[wash the seed] with dilute Clorox (dilute acqueous NAOCl)...[and sow at 70*F and 40*F for 3 months each, using the Deno baggy method which can be found in my comment to Haberlea rhodopensis. Deno got 88% germination in the 4th and 6th weeks with this method]" He also wrote, "Curiously, those sown outdoors or at 40*F all rotted."

At this point at the end of January, with un-fresh seed, I will sow this seed indoors at 70*F per Deno, using his baggy method, but at the beginning of March, will move the pot outside for those fluctuating temps, taking care to ventilate the baggy, shade in afternoon by placing it on our northwest-facing porch, and spritz with water to keep seeds from drying out. I might try to purchase a plant in spring for a source of fresh seed, while leaving the seeds alone in their pot for a few more months.

Deno's foregoing germination method is for H. acutiloba, which is similar to his method for H. nobilis.

With regard to "ventilating the baggy" as mentioned above in Deno's method, the Wintersowing Forum on DG can be very helpful. There's a great explanation of wintersowing on: [HYPERLINK@www.wintersown.org]

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba) grows wild in my woods. It seems to like the south side of a gently sloping ravine. It is a perennial native in Ohio, and is nearly identical to Round-lobed Hepatica.

The stems of pollinated flowers lengthen and droop towards the ground where ants collect and disperse the seeds.

Bloom color can be pinkish, lavernder-blue or white.
The plant retains its leaves all winter, but previous year's leaves are dark purple to brown and new growth is a light green.