National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

C&O Canal National Historical Park

1850 Dual Highway

Hagerstown, MD

21740

Eastern Redbud

(Cercis canadensis)

 Medium sized 

tree

 Pink flowers 

emerging from 

branches

 Heart shaped 

leaves

Alan Cressler, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Leatherwood

(Dirca palustris)

 Medium sized 

shrub

 Small yellow 

flower

 Light brown 

malleable bark

R.W. Smith, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Paw Paw

(Asimina triloba)

 Medium sized 

tree

 Red/purple 

nodding flower

 Aromatic leaves 

(green pepper)

Stefan Bloodworth, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Spice Bush

(Lindera benzoin)

 Medium sized 

shrub

 Yellow flowers 

emerging from 

branches

 Aromatic “spicy” 

scented leaves 

and bark

Alan Cressler, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Mayapple

(Podophyllum peltatum)

 White flower under 

two leaves

 Five petals

 Carpets forest floor

Jeff McMilian, USDA-NRCS PLANTS 

Roundlobed Hepatica

(Hepatica americana)

 White/pink/blue/purple 

flowers

 Three lobed round 

leaves

 Leaves emerging from 

base

Doug Sherman, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Shooting Star

(Dodecatheon meadia)

 White/pink nodding flowers

 Leaves emerging 

from base

 Carpets the forest 

floor

James O. Baines, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Twinleaf

(Jeffersonia diphylla)

 White flower

 8 petals

 Leaf with two 

identical 

segments

George H. Bruso, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

NPS

Dutchman’s Breeches
Spring is a beautiful time of 

year to experience many of 

the natural beauties the C&O 

Canal has to offer. This 

wildflower guide will help 

you identify many of the 

spring flowers you can find 

up and down the canal. 

Please remember not to 

remove any plant materials 

from the park, but most of 

all, enjoy your time at the 

C&O Canal!

Thomas G. Barnes, USDA-NRCS PLANTS 

Jeff McMilian, USDA-NRCS PLANTS

© Thomas G. Barnes, USDA-NRCS PLANTS 

Dutchman’s Breeches

(Dicentra cucullaria)

 White flowers resemble 

“pants on a clothes line”

 Highly dissected leaves

 Closely related to 

squirrel corn

Star Chickweed

(Stellaria pubera)

 Small white 

flower

 Leaves come off 

the stem opposite

 Leaves are slightly 

hairy

W.D. & Dolphia Bransford, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Wild Ginger

(Asarum canadense)

 Small purple/red 

flower below 

leaves

 Heart shaped 

leaves

 Leaf stems often 

hairy

R.W. Smith, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

R.W. Smith, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

NPS

Virginia Bluebells

(Mertensia virginica)

 Blue/pink/purple 

flower

 Bell-shaped flower

 Fleshy green leaves

NPS

Toadshade

(Trillium sessile)

 Red/purple flower

 Three leaves

 Light green/dark 

green leaves 

(mottled)

NPS

Spring Beauty NPS

(Claytonia virginica)

 White/pink 

flowers

 Pink striped 

petals

 Long, thin leaves 

from base

NPS

Blue Violet

(Viola sororia)

 Purple flowers

 2 upper petals, 

2 lateral petals, 

1 lower petal

 Oval, green leaves

NPS

Blood Root

(Sanguinaria canadensis)

 White flower

 Bright yellow flower 

center

 Irregularly shaped 

lobed leaves

NPS

Yellow Trout Lily

(Erythronium americanum)

 Nodding yellow flower

 Light green/dark green 

leaves

 Leaves form at base of 

plant

NPS

Squirrel Corn

(Dicentra canadensis)

 White flowers 

resemble hearts

 Highly dissected 

leaves

 Closely related to 

Dutchman's 

breeches

NPS

Bellwort

(Uvularia sessilifolia)

 Nodding yellow 

flower

 Six petals

 Stem goes 

through the 

leaves

NPS

Cutleaf Toothwort

(Cardamine concatenata)

 White flowers

 4 petals

 Leaves divided with 

a serrated edge

NPS

NPS

Virginia Bluebells