




Hydrophyllum appendiculatum
Great waterleaf is a lovely plant with big, soft leaves that can grow in shady places. It blooms with pretty flowers that attract butterflies and bees, making it a special part of nature.
Habitat: Forests
The great waterleaf has soft, hairy stems and deeply lobed, palm-shaped leaves that resemble large hands, often with distinct silvery or white markings when young. Its clusters of small, bell-shaped, lavender-to-purple flowers bloom atop the plant.





Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
4
Early pollinators like queen bumblebees flock to its purple flowers, eagerly collecting nectar after winter.
Its name, Hydrophyllum, literally means 'water leaf' because its leaves appear to hold water droplets!
Look closely! Tiny hairs on its leaves can trap dewdrops, making them sparkle like they're covered in diamonds!
Native Americans once used the young, tender leaves of great waterleaf as a delicious wild spring vegetable!
Great waterleaf has unique leaf hairs that trap water droplets, making them shimmer and helping the plant stay hydrated.
Great waterleaf can grow very quickly in spring to capture sunlight before the forest canopy fully shades the ground.
Great waterleaf has underground stems called rhizomes that help it spread and create new plants without needing seeds.
Apis mellifera
Gathers nectar and pollen from its flowers.
Bombus impatiens
One of the earliest bees to visit its blooms.

Odocoileus virginianus
Deer browse on its tender spring foliage.
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
No aliases listed yet.
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.
The easiest way to identify great waterleaf is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
30-60 cm
30-45 cm
1-2 cm
Late spring to early summer
Yes
None
Perennial
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Ohio, US
You might spot Large White Trillium, Fire Pink, and Christmas Fern.
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Illinois, US
You might spot Eastern Red-Backed Salamander and Blanchard's Cricket Frog.
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Michigan, US
You might spot Whooping Crane, Wild Teasel, and Redside Dace.
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Illinois, US
You might spot Bald Eagle, Box Elder, and Chicory.
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Kentucky, US
You might spot Great Waterleaf, Lesser Celandine, and White-Tailed Deer.
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Ontario, CA
You might spot Barn Swallow and Northern Yellow Warbler.
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