Candle Anemone
Anemone cylindrica
Last reviewed: August 2026
Anemone cylindrica, commonly called candle anemone, is a prairie forb that blooms May through July with small white flowers on tall stems, growing well in part sun and medium moisture in grasslands and open woodlands.
Toxicity unknown
Candle Anemone (Anemone cylindrica) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part sun
Water
medium
Size
12"–24" H × 6"–12" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul
Native to
AZ, CO, CT, IA and 23 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles
Before you buy
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Candle anemone is a graceful native wildflower that produces delicate white flowers on slender stems from May through July. After blooming, it forms distinctive fluffy seed heads that give the plant its candle-like appearance. The foliage dies back in winter, returning each spring from underground roots.
Growing Candle Anemone
Grow Candle Anemone in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Candle Anemone is an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.
Works well in: mid zone, backyard only.
- Can look sparse or weedy when dormant in winter
- Seed heads may appear untidy to some HOAs
Wildlife value
This native plant attracts bees and beetles during its blooming period. The seeds provide food for birds and small wildlife.
Common questions
- When does Anemone cylindrica bloom?
- Candle anemone typically flowers from May through July, producing small white blooms followed by distinctive cylindrical seed heads.
- What growing conditions suit Anemone cylindrica best?
- This forb does well in part sun with medium moisture, though it also tolerates drier, well drained soils typical of prairies and open woodland edges.
- What pollinators visit Anemone cylindrica?
- Bees and beetles are the main visitors to candle anemone flowers, drawn to the exposed pollen since the blooms lack nectar.
- What does Anemone cylindrica look like?
- It grows as an upright forb with deeply lobed basal leaves and slender stalks topped by white flowers that mature into cylindrical, cottony seed heads.
- Is Candle Anemone HOA-friendly?
- Candle Anemone is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Candle Anemone? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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