Noticed these growing beside a brook while driving by. Had only noticed them because so little is green right now and these stood out from a good 100 feet from the road with their bright green color.

They were mainly growing right along side of the brook (some in the water, right at the edge) others were growing in little depressed areas that most likely spend some time flooded. Tried digging down to find if it was a bulb, tuber or what, but had no tools and could not dig deep enough to figure it out with my hands. I'm guessing it's not something I can move into my gardens because I think it needs to be WET all the time and I've no spot like that in my yard. I LOVE the foliage on them though and would love to know what they are.

Thanks in advance, I know someone here will know what they are.

Looks just like my Veratrum nigrum which is at about the same stage now. It's later than last year as we had winter until April. I bought mine as a 7 year old plant, it flowered last year after another 8 years!

Mine does well without too much wet growing in sandy soil, we had two years with little rain until last year, then we had plenty.

Possibly Veratrum viride. According to Bonap, it is the only one recorded growing wild in New Hampshire.

Green False Hellebore (Veratrum viride)

http://www.ct-botanical-societ...

Strange thing is, V. nigrum has no given distribution in the US. Is it a garden escapee there?

http://plants.usda.gov/java/pr...

http://www.pacificbulbsociety....

Jay's got it. It's Veratrum viride.

Neat plant.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/pr...

Looks like my "nun orchid"

Looks alot like Cypripedium (Lady Slippers)

4susiesjoy said:Looks alot like Cypripedium (Lady Slippers)

We have Cypripedium macranthos in my area and I'm quite familiar with it (grows along the woodline on my property)...this is NOT it. These are putting up HUGE amounts of foliage while C. macranthos put up only a couple leaves before throwing out it's bloom stalk.


From further examination and online picture comparison of positively identified Veratrum viride, I think Jay hit this one right on the head. Once it blooms I'll be sure, but even then, at this point I am 98% positive that it is indeed V. viride.