(All photos taken by 
I spend a lot of time on nature trails once spring arrives. I love seeing everything become green again and the myriad of spring wildflowers blooming. Over the last year thanks to my interest in macrophotography, my eyes have been opened to the small, delicate beauty of the low lying flowers of the forest floor. The Northern Starflower is a lovely example of such a flower.
The Northern Starflower is a member of the primrose family and a perennial flower that starts to bloom in mid to late spring. In higher elevations it can bloom into early summer.
This lovely little woodland wildflower is native to the northeast, but can also be found in the Midwest and the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. It prefers partially shaded areas of moist soil, however can be found in a variety of soil types and woodland areas.
Around midsummer the flowers and plant go dormant leaving behind a ripening seed pod. The seeds will be dispersed generally by insects and need to experience a period of cold winter temperatures before they will germinate the next spring season.
The Northern Starflower is not edible, nor does it have any known medicinal uses. This pretty wildflower does provide our most important pollinators bees with nectar and pollen, as well as add a lovely element of beauty to the forest floor.
I hope you have enjoyed this look at one of natures hidden gems.
Flower classification was found here:
https://www.wildflowersearch.org/search?
Information about this wildflower was found here:
http://www.adirondackvic.org/Starflower -- Trientalis borealis.htm
As always remember that it is all about the little things in life! Thanks for looking in! :)
