Virginia Waterleaf, Hydrophyllum virginianum
( Hydrophyllum virginianum ) aka Eastern Waterleaf Bloom Time: Late Spring (May – June) Location: prefers shade and moisture, often found growing in floodplains. A common plant in Minnesota (general). Found growing throughout the floodplains (Arb). Family: Borage (Boraginaceae) Physical Description: bell-shaped flowers in loose clusters, with 5 lobes and long hairy stamens that jut out beyond the reach of the petals. Color typically is a pale violet or pink, sometimes white. The five petals have feathery edges, and give the entire bloom a fuzzy appearance. 1-2 blooms per stem, and there can be multiple stems on a plant. Leaves are long, coarsely toothed, and deeply lobed. Dark green with spots of white or lighter green along edge and along stem. This plant was named for the spots on the leaves, which supposedly resemble water stains or dew droplets. When exposed to sunlight, the color of the blooms fades rapidly. This plant does not compete well with hearty invasives.