1. Cut-leaved toothwort: Graceful and droopy white flowers and distinctive leaves are good indicators of cut-leaved toothwort. Coarse and rounded teeth mark the leaves of this plant, which are indicated in the plant’s name. A spring ephemeral, this wildflower starts its blooms in late March.

2. Jack-in-the-pulpit: An exotic-looking wildflower, jack-in-the-pulpits are a special find. Look for this plant in shady, moist, woods and floodplains.  

3. Skunk Cabbage: As the name suggests, you are more likely to smell this plant before seeing it. The odorous flowers of this plant attract many pollinators such as gnats, beetles, and flies. Skunk cabbage is one of the first to appear in early spring and can be found in wet, marshy areas. It can even bloom while snow is still on the ground, thanks to the plant’s heat-producing property known as thermogenesis.  

4. Bloodroot: Lucky viewers will enjoy the short, 1–2day blooms of bloodroots that occurs in early spring. This flower models perfect symmetry, with anywhere from 8-12 flowers on their white flowers. This plant gets its name from the red liquid found in the roots.  

5. Trilliums: Trilliums are best identified by counting their petals- three! There are over 30 types of trilliums native to the U.S., eight of which can be found in Ohio. Most found in Ohio are white, but they also can be found in deep plum shades.  

6. Dutchman’s breeches: The irregular shape of the dutchman’s breeches makes this one of the most easily identifiable spring ephemerals in Ohio. The name of breeches was given to this plant because of the pantaloon-shaped white and yellow flowers that dangle from a long stem. The leaves of Dutchman’s breeches resemble those of a fern. Rich forests and shaded ledges make the perfect habitat for this wildflower. 

7. Yellow Trout lily: Solitary, nodding, yellow flowers denote this beloved wildflower. The petals of a trout lily will bend backwards to expose the brown stamens found at its center. A close relative, the White Trout Lily, takes a similar form with white petals.