In spring, nature slowly awakens again. Especially in the forest, when there are hardly any leaves on the trees, there are many spring flowers, which are an important food source for insects. We present 25 forest flowers from spring.
In a nutshell
- Spring flowers prefer deciduous forests or forest edges
- most species flower from March to April
- many spring bloomers prefer slightly moist soil
- only a few early flowering forest flowers non-toxic
Table of contents
- Forest flowers in spring from B to G
- From H to K
- From L to P
- From S to V
- From W to Z
- frequently asked Questions
Forest flowers in spring from B to G
wild garlic (Allium ursinum)
The wild garlic is often used in spring as an aromatic kitchen herb collected.
- Flowers: white, star-shaped, individual flowers combined into a pseudo umbel
- Flowering time: April to May
- Occurrence: light alluvial forests
- Soil: fresh, moist, humic
- Toxicity: non-toxic, eating lots of raw leaves can lead to intolerance in sensitive people
A notice: it exists Can be confused with some poisonous plants, e.g. B. Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) or autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale). Therefore, only collect wild garlic if you can clearly identify it.
Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa)
The wood anemone is one of the most important in spring Forage plants for insects.
- Flower: white, cupped
- Flowering time: March to April
- Occurrence: light deciduous forests
- Soil: fresh, loose, nutritious, permeable
- Toxicity: slightly toxic
realMezereon (Daphne mezereum)
In the case of daphne, the flowers sit directly on the branches without stems.
- Flower: pink, trumpet-shaped, small
- Flowering time: March to May
- Occurrence: Mixed deciduous forests with many beeches
- Soil: undemanding, moderately nutritious
- Toxicity: very toxic
Spring Snowflake (Leucojum vernum)
The spring knot is already fully protected in many regions when there are still natural stocks.
- Flower: white, with green tips, bell-shaped
- Flowering time: March to April
- Occurrence: light deciduous forests
- Soil: fresh, humic, rich in nutrients
- Toxicity: toxic
A notice: This forest flower is also known under the name "March mug".
Spotted Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis)
The spotted lungwort stands out due to its differently colored flowers, which are caused by a change in the pH value in the plant.
- Flowers: pink, violet, grouped in clusters
- Flowering time: April to May
- Occurrence: light deciduous forests, forest edges
- Soil: fresh, humic, permeable, loamy
- Toxicity: slightly toxic, belongs to the borage family, all of which are classified as slightly toxic
Yellow anemone (Anemone ranunculoides)
The yellow anemone is much rarer than the wood anemone, but looks like it, except for the color of the flowers.
- Flower: yellow, star-shaped
- Flowering time: April to May
- Occurrence: light deciduous forests, forest edges
- Soil: fresh, well drained
- Toxicity: toxic
From H to K
Cowslip (Primula elatior)
Cowslips are often confused with cowslips (Primula veris), but they prefer open meadows.
- Flowers: light yellow, trumpet-shaped, grouped in clusters
- Flowering time: March to May
- Occurrence: light deciduous forests, forest edges, forest paths
- Soil: moist, nutritious, loamy
- Toxicity: non-toxic to slightly toxic, warnings are occasionally given against excessive consumption
Hollow Corydalis (Corydalis cava)
The Hollow Corydalis is a popular fodder plant for spring bumblebees.
- Flowers: pale violet, flowers with spurs, clustered in spikes
- Flowering time: March to April
- Occurrence: light forests, forest edges, preferably beech or oak forests
- Soil: fresh, humic
- Toxicity: toxic
Lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor)
This forest flower is one of the few spring bloomers that also has green leaves all year round.
- Flower: violet, funnel-shaped
- Flowering time: April to May
- Occurrence: light forests, forest edges
- Soil: permeable, humic
- Toxicity: toxic
Lesser snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)
The little snowdrop has become a popular ornamental plant in the garden and is often used in perennial beds planted.
- Flower: white, bell-shaped
- Flowering time: December to April
- Occurrence: light forests
- Soil: humic, rich in nutrients
- Toxicity: toxic
Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
The garlic mustard has an intense smell of garlic and is one of the most important food plants for the Aurora butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines).
- Flower: white, small
- Flowering time: April to June
- Occurrence: light forests, along open forest paths, forest edges
- Soil: fresh, humic, rich in nitrogen
- Toxicity: non-toxic
Crawling Bugle (Ajuga reptans)
Due to its upright inflorescence, the Günsel is an eye-catcher in early spring.
- Flowers: blue, small labial flowers, upright
- Flowering time: April to June
- Occurrence: Forest edges, roadsides, clearings with moderate vegetation
- Soil: fresh, humic, rich in nutrients, moderately acidic
- Toxicity: non-toxic
From L to P
Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis)
The liverwort can be very variable in flower color.
- Flowers: blue, violet, white, pink, star-shaped, single flowers
- Flowering time: March to April
- Occurrence: Forest edges, roadsides, sparse deciduous forests
- Soil: fresh, humic, permeable, calcareous
- Toxicity: toxic
Pennywort (Lysimachia nummularia)
Pennywort is a very good ground cover, which is why it is in the garden for semi-shady to shady locations willingly used.
- Flower: yellow, star-shaped
- Flowering time: April to July
- Occurrence: Forest edges, roadsides in the forest
- Soil: fresh, moist, nutritious, loamy
- Toxicity: non-toxic
Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum)
This forest flower attracts attention with its red inflorescence, which is complemented by reddish bracts.
- Flowers: reddish, red-violet, labiate
- Flowering time: March to October
- Occurrence: Forest edges, roadsides in the forest
- Soil: undemanding, fresh, nutrient-rich preferred
- Toxicity: non-toxic
From S to V
Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)
Lesser celandine was formerly used to prevent scurvy due to its high vitamin content, but it is only edible until flowering.
- Flowers: yellow, star-shaped, single flowers
- Flowering time: April to May
- Occurrence: deciduous forests, wet areas
- Soil: fresh, moderately moist, humic, permeable
- Toxicity: Non-toxic until flowering, no longer edible after flowering
Scalewort (Lathraea squamaria)
Scalewort is often confused with a lupine because it has a similar inflorescence.
- Flowers: pale pink, rarely purple, spike-shaped
- Flowering time: March to April
- Occurrence: deciduous forests, forest paths
- Soil: as a total parasite, it has no special soil requirements, only needs suitable host plants such as beech, poplar or hazel
- Toxicity: slightly toxic
Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus)
This forest flower is an important food source for the first wild bees, long before other spring bloomers.
- Flower: greenish, bell-shaped
- Flowering time: November to April
- Occurrence: deciduous forests, forest paths
- Soil: rocky, loose, humic
- Toxicity: toxic
Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)
The marsh marigold can be found not only in wet meadows, but also in damp forests.
- Flowers: yellow, star-shaped, variable number of individual flowers
- Flowering time: March to June
- Occurrence: damp forest paths, damp spots in the forest, forest streams
- Soil: moist, humic
- Toxicity: toxic
Four-Leaf Herb (Paris quadrifolia)
The four-leaved herb is particularly striking because of its unusual shape with the four raised leaves.
- Flower: greenish, radiating
- Flowering time: April to June
- Occurrence: deciduous forests, forest edges
- Soil: moist, nutrient-rich, humic
- Toxicity: toxic
From W to Z
Wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella)
In summer, the wood sorrel protects itself from great heat by placing the undersides of the leaves together.
- Flower: white, violet veins, cupped
- Flowering time: April to June
- Occurrence: deciduous forests, forest edges, forest paths
- Soil: fresh, moist, humic
- Toxicity: non-toxic to slightly toxic, oxalic acid can lead to kidney problems in large quantities
Wood cuckooflower (Cardamine flexuosa)
This forest flower is an inconspicuous plant, but in the right spot it can grow up to 50 cm high.
- Flower: white, small
- Flowering time: April to June
- Occurrence: light forests, along open forest paths, forest edges
- Soil: fresh, moist, rich in nutrients, low in lime
- Toxicity: non-toxic
Yellow Star (Gagea lutea)
Forest Yellowstar Seeds are grown using ants spread.
- Flower: yellow, star-shaped
- Flowering time: March to May
- Occurrence: light deciduous forests, forest edges
- Soil: rich in nutrients, fresh, calcareous
- Toxicity: toxic
Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
The woodruff is often used for sweet dishes because of its intense smell.
- Flower: white, small, star-shaped
- Flowering time: April to May
- Happen: sparse forests, on the edge of wet areas
- Soil: fresh, permeable, humic
- Toxicity: non-toxic, excessive consumption of woodruff can cause nausea or headaches in sensitive individuals
Tip: The woodruff smells even more intensively when it is wilted. Before it is used, it should therefore dry for a few hours in partial shade.
Onion toothroot (Cardamine bulbifera)
The peculiarity of the onion toothroot is that it develops brood buds in the leaf axils.
- Flowers: pale violet, small, clustered in racemes
- Flowering time: April to June
- Occurrence: sparse forests, forest edges, roadsides in the forest
- Soil: fresh, nutritious, calcareous
- Toxicity: non-toxic
frequently asked Questions
Yes, in some species this is possible. What almost all spring forest bloomers have in common is that they usually bloom when the trees are not yet leafy, which gives them enough light. Later they need a dense canopy of leaves to protect them from the blazing sun. In the garden, a location in the area of deciduous hedges or fruit trees is ideal and they can be used as underplanting.
The spring flowers form the first green in the forest. Their toxins prevent them from being eaten by wild animals, thereby ensuring the survival of their species.
Most spring bloomers prefer deciduous forests because the trees are not yet leafy or only sparsely leafy at flowering time. This will give them enough sun during the flowering period. In addition, the soil in coniferous forests is usually much more acidic than in deciduous forests. Most spring bloomers in the forest tolerate a slightly acidic soil, but that of pure coniferous forests is too acidic.
