As the weather warms up for the season, the Credit River Watershed is transforming with the vibrant tapestry of spring wildflowers and eager pollinating visitors.
The old saying ‘April showers bring May flowers’ has been passed down through generations and can be heard every spring as the rain starts falling and buds begin blooming.
There’s some truth to this saying and we’re already seeing it in action at our parks, where the wildflowers have drank up April’s rain and are beginning to bloom. Here are four gorgeous spring flowers to be on the lookout for this season:
Spring Beauty
Delicate spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) is one of the first flowers we see in spring. These petite, star-shaped, white to pale pink flowers grow in loose clusters brightening up forest floors making them easy to spot.
This tuberous perennial, meaning thick roots and long lifespan plant, has small, potato-like roots.
Bees and other pollinators rely on this early blooming flower for nectar and pollen.
Marsh Marigold
Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) is a large yellow-golden flower, often referred to as ‘kingcups’ because they look like the cups that ancient kings would drink from. The scientific name, Caltha is from the Greek for ‘goblet’.
Spot these beautiful flowers while visiting damp areas in the watershed during spring. They favour growing along the edges of ponds, in meadows, marshes, ditches and wet woodlands. You can spot this flower at Rattray Marsh Conservation Area.
They also make a great flower to add to the edge’s wet areas on your property, providing shelter for frogs and early nectar for insects.
Canada Violet
Canada violet (Viola canadensis) is a perennial, long-term lifespan, wildflower that forms in clumps and has fragrant flowers. It has five white petals which can have a purple tinge on the underside, particularly the upper two petals.
Nectar from these flowers attracts butterflies and bees. It supports meadow fritillary (Boloria bellona) and atlantis fritillary (Speyeria atlantis) butterfly larvae by providing spacious habitat. The seed fruits are also a food source for birds and small mammals.
These flowers are particularly abundant in the rocky escarpment areas in the middle of the watershed, like Silver Creek and Terra Cotta Conservation Areas.
We can help this species thrive by pulling invasive garlic mustard or other species with us at our events, which competes for native plants habitat.
Dutchman’s Breeches
This elegant herbaceous flower, dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) is an upside-down pantaloon shaped white, yellow tipped flower that grows gracefully on arched stems.
Found among other spring wildflowers, like the spring beauty and bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), they grow in cool, moist woodlands.
These flowers are not only unique but also attract beneficial, pollinating insects.
If you are interested in planting any spring flowers in your garden, visit a native plant nursery.
Take Part in Community Science
Planning to visit a Credit Valley Park this spring? Take a moment to search for these beautiful spring flowers on the trails and share your photos with us on Instagram, Facebook and X or on community science apps like iNaturalist.
By Sarah Lebret, Associate, Marketing and Communications.