Harbinger-of-Spring

Erigenia bulbosa

This tiny wildflower is easily identified....if you can find it! Often the first spring ephemeral to bloom, its aptop the list for many wildflower enthusiasts anxious to spot the first wildflowers of the year. But, the adorable Pepper-and-Salt flowers of Erigenia bulbosa, are challenging to spot! They are miniscule and often lay nearly hidden in the leaf litter. Once found, its best to note the spot so one can return to visit these teeny weeny beauties year after year.


  1. NAME
  2. BLOOM
  3. POLLINATORS
  4. DESCRIPTION
  5. PLANTS GROWING NEARBY
  6. HABITAT
  7. CONSERVATION STATUS
  8. INTERESTING TIDBITS

Erigenia bulbosa is in the Apiaceae (Carrot) family. 'Erigenia' means "early born", referencing this plants early spring flowering. The Latin word 'bulbous' is the base for Bulbosa and refers to the underground tubers.

There are two common names frequently used to describe this wildflower. Both are fitting, 'Harbinger-of-Spring' and 'Pepper and Salt'. 'Harbinger-of-spring' is a straightforward moniker based on the arrival of these flowers at the beginning of spring. 'Pepper and Salt' refers to the effect of the black anthers (when mature) against the white flowers.


Harbinger-of-Spring may be found blooming as early as February, although I typically find it in early March. The tiny, bright white flowers of this plant usually appear before its leaves, occuring in numerous clusters atop the diminutive plant. Vibrant blood red anthers are lovely, held above the flowers. The anthers transition quickly from red to black, which accounts for the common name of Pepper and Salt.

  • Red anthers
    Red anthers
  • Black anthers
    Black anthers

Harbinger-of-spring arises from an underground tuber. The flowers and leaves are protected in a sheath while developing underground. As they emerge, the sheath is often visible.

  • Sheath with flowers and leaves
    Sheath with flowers and leaves
  • Flowers preceedinge leaves
    Flowers preceedinge leaves

The glabrous leaves are mostly seen at the base of the plant, although a leafy bract is found underneath the flower umbel. Leaves are typically divided into 3 leaflets.

  • Single leaf
    Single leaf
  • Bract
    Bract

Stems may be green to reddish or brown and may grow up to 5 or 6 inches. They are ridged longitudinally and without hairs (glabrous). While they may be erect, stems are often sprawling.

  • Reddish stem
    Reddish stem
  • Brownish stem
    Brownish stem

After flowering, boxy green fruits quickly appear and are often seen simultaneously with the flowers. The fruits are schizocarps, meaning they split, once mature. In the case of Erigenia bulbosa, they split into 2 mericarps with each mericarp containing one seed. Once ripe, the fruits turn yellow to brown. The stems continue to grow, becoming lanky. This helps to ensure ripe seeds fall further from the mother plant, dispersing the seeds.

  • Flowers and fruits
    Flowers and fruits
  • Close look at fruits
    Close look at fruits

Harbinger-of-Spring attracts numerous small insects, especially bees and various flies. Small Carpenter bees, Mason bees, Andrenid bees and Halictid bees are known visitors. Flies also frequent the flowers. According to Dr. John Hilty, author of the website Illinois Wildflowers, fly visitors include Calliphorid flies, Anthomyiid flies, Frit flies, Lance flies, and flower flies (Syrphidae). So far I have only documented flies visiting the plants. Hopefully, I will have more luck this year!

The Pontia protodice butterfly nectars on the plants as well the Anagrapha falcifera moth. I've read that beetles may also visit the flowers.

Pontia protodice butterfly
Pontia protodice butterfly

Although Erigenia bulbosa is likely the first spring ephemeral to flower, it quickly has woodland companions blooming nearby. I frequently find Sanguinaria canadensis (Bloodroot) and Thalictrum thalictroides (Rue anemone) flowering simultaneously with Erigenia bulbosa. Other spring ephemerals you may find nearby include Trillium recurvatum (Purple Trillium), Cardamine douglassii (Purple cress), Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman's breeches), Erythronium albidum (Trout lily), Phlox divaricata (Woodland phlox), Geranium maculatum (Wild geranium) and Corydalis flavula (Pale corydalis.) The photo below shows the leaves of Harbinger-of-spring with those of Geranium maculatum. In the photo, Harbinger-of-spring has completed flowering but Wild Geranium has just emerged and is yet to flower.

Leaves of Wild Geranium with Harbinger-of-Spring

Erigenia bulbosa is often found in woodlands with calcareous soils around limestone. It also thrives in areas of rich, mesic woodlands along creeks, rivers and bottomlands.

  • Rich woodland
  • Among lichen

In Arkansas it has a Conservation value of 8 in the group of 8-10 meaning "Conservative taxa with strong fidelity to intact habitats. These taxa tend to exhibit late-successional characteristics like long lifespans with low seed sets and an inability for far ranging dispersal.

Harbinger-of-Spring is native to the eastern United States, west to Kansas and Oklahoma and north to Michigan. Natureserve shows it as:

Critically Imperiled (S1)- Kansas, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Wisconsin.

Imperiled S2?- Georgia

Vulnerable S3- Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginica

Apparently Secure/Secure S4/S5- Indiana

No Status Rank SNR- Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee


Both the leaves and starchy tubers of Erigenia bulbosa are edible. The leaves are said to taste similar to parsley with the tubers having a nutty flavor, if harvested early. You can read more about this on the interesting site, Nomad Seed Project. The author advocates for spreading seed of native plants that have"exceptional value to humans and their ecology as food, medicine, shelter, materials, and beauty." He also cautions about doing so responsibly so as not to deplete populations. While very interesting, I think I will simply enjoy seeing and photographing the flowers of Harbinger-of-Spring.