Enjoy these spring wildflowers while they last

Perennials find different ways to adapt to their environments. The fuzzy foliage of lamb's ears reduces the amount of water the plant loses through its leaves and makes the species drought tolerant. Sedums have fleshy leaves that store water - another adaptation for dry conditions.

Some wildflowers have adapted to woodlands by being ephemeral. They rise quickly when sunlight warms the soil, bloom and produce seed before the tree canopy robs them of sunlight. As light decreases, ephemerals store energy and go dormant, disappearing altogether from the garden.

Bleeding hearts

Old-fashioned bleeding hearts (Dicentra spectabilis) is one of the most popular ephemerals. Puffy, heart-shaped flowers with white-tipped, rose-pink petals dangle like jewels from graceful, arching stems. Bleeding hearts form large bushy clumps of fresh green foliage. To encourage them to remain in the garden as long as possible, cut plants back to 6 inches after flowering to encourage new growth. This, along with supplemental watering, may delay dormancy for a month or more. Don't forget to cut a few stems for bouquets. They last in a vase for up to two weeks.

Bloodroot

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a woodland native. Its single white flowers appear in April followed by single-lobed leaves on each stem. Bloodroot gets its common name from the bright reddish juice contained in its roots.

Dutchman's breeches

Dicentra cucullaria gets its common name, Dutchman's breeches, because its flowers look like a pair of white knickers hanging out to dry. Plants grow up to 8 inches tall and have delicate-looking, dusty gray-green foliage. Dutchman's breeches prefer soil rich with organic matter and moist, but not soggy, conditions.

Celandine poppies

Light up the woodland garden with Stylophorum diphyllum, commonly called celandine poppies. Its bright yellow, buttercup-like flowers bloom on 12- to 18-inch stems. Fuzzy seed heads develop after the flowers fade. If celandine poppies are given enough moisture, the blue-green foliage might persist in the garden all summer. Don't plant these unless you have room to let them naturalize. They self-sow generously.

Shooting stars

Shooting stars display sweptback, five-petaled flowers - in white, pink or light purple - at the top of leafless stems. Dodecatheon meadia grows 12 to 24 inches tall. Shooting stars must be planted in well-drained soil. They will not survive in poorly drained, wet conditions. Plant them near the front of a woodland border where their unique flowers can be appreciated.

Trillium

There are many varieties of trillium that add simple elegance to woodland gardens. They are the epitome of American wildflowers and grow from 6 to 18 inches, preferring cool, moist soil.

Purple trillium (T. erectum) has dark reddish-purple flowers. White trillium (T. grandiflorum) boasts large, snow-white flowers. Trillium recurvatum, sometimes referred to as prairie trillium, has purple-brown flowers and speckled green foliage. Toad trillium (T. sessile) may have purplish-maroon or greenish-yellow flowers over mottled leaves. Yellow wood trillium (T. viride luteum) sports yellow flowers that stand upright over splotched foliage.

Virginia bluebells

My favorite ephemeral is Mertensia virginica, or Virginia bluebells. Their pink buds open to blue, nodding, bell-shaped flowers. Plants grow 12 to 24 inches tall. Virginia bluebells disappear into dormancy soon after flowering.

Because ephemerals disappear completely, planning for their dormancy is necessary to avoid empty spaces in the garden. Plant them among large-leaved perennials that will cover the space left behind. Hostas, monkshood, lady's mantle and anemones are all good choices.

Diana Stoll is a horticulturist, garden writer and speaker. She blogs at gardenwithdiana.com.