Over the years I’ve planted a variety of bulbs beneath the deciduous Chinese Pistache tree in my front yard. These bulbs are just beginning to come into full flower; Daffodils, Snowdrops, and Freesias reach upward and open to the sun, adding color to my winter-bare landscape. These plants are all known as spring ephemerals.
This term describes perennial woodland plants that bloom for a brief time in the early spring before dying back to their roots or bulbs. After their above-ground parts die back, they will store up sugars in their below-ground parts until they emerge again next spring. In a forest ecosystem, this life-cycle allows these plants to take advantage of the sunlight as the days begin to get longer and the deciduous trees above them do not yet have their leaves to cast shadows below. Spring ephemerals also take advantage of the moist spring soils to create their blooms and seeds.
Like the famous Japanese Cherry Blossom, or Sakura, spring ephemerals are a lovely reminder of life’s beautiful but impermanent nature. They usher us out of the more barren winter months, only to shine brightly and then retreat, making way for summer’s more heat-tolerant plants.
Although the ephemerals I’ve mentioned above are not native, there are many California native spring ephemerals. All you need to do is go for a hike this month to become acquainted with some of them: Shooting Star (Dodecatheon jeffreyi), Miner’s Lettuce (Claytonia parviflora) and Brodiaea (Brodiaea elegans) are a few that I’ve seen up on Mt. Burdell and elsewhere in Marin.
HOW DO I INCORPORATE SPRING EPHEMERALS INTO MY GARDEN?
Although bulbs, such as Daffodils, Freesias, and Hyacinths are best planted in the fall, many other spring ephemerals can be purchased at local nurseries right now while they are at the beginning or peak of their bloom. Just be sure to mark where you plant them, because by summertime the plants will become dormant and you won’t want to accidentally trample or dig them up before their return next spring.
As mentioned above, the best place to plant these beauties is underneath a deciduous tree where they will get sunlight in the spring but shade in the summer. However, many of them will do fine in part- to full-sun as well. Research each individual plant’s preferences before planting.
Remember to slow down and enjoy these gifts of spring. Their time in our gardens and landscapes is short and sweet!