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Wood Anemone

Anemone quinquefolia

Last reviewed: June 2026

Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia)
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Toxicity unknown

Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) 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 shade

Water

medium

Size

4"–12" H × 4"–8" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

AL, CT, DE, GA and 26 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Before you buy

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

PiedmontWestern Corn Belt PlainsGreat PlainsNorthern ForestsNorthern Lakes and ForestsNorth Central Hardwood ForestsDriftless AreaSoutheastern Wisconsin Till PlainsCentral Corn Belt PlainsEastern Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsHuron/Erie Lake PlainsNortheastern HighlandsNortheastern Coastal ZoneNorthern Allegheny PlateauErie Drift PlainMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNorthern PiedmontSoutheastern PlainsBlue RidgeRidge and ValleyEastern Temperate ForestsCentral AppalachiansWestern Allegheny PlateauAcadian Plains and HillsEastern Great Lakes LowlandsAtlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Wood anemone is a delicate spring wildflower that produces white, five-petaled blooms in April and May. This low-growing native perennial forms small colonies in partially shaded areas and goes dormant by midsummer, leaving bare spots for the rest of the growing season.

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How to care for Wood Anemone, by region

How to care for Wood Anemone where it is actually grown: year-round basics plus what to do each season, region by region, with the sources for each.

Care guidance last updated: October 2026

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Erie Drift Plain (includes Buffalo, NY)

Year-round

Wood anemone is a low, slow-spreading woodland flower for shade and moist, acidic, humus-rich soil.

  • Grows 8 to 12 inches tall and spreads into a mat by rhizomes
  • Likes fertile, moist, well-drained, acidic soil
  • It can take up to 5 years to start flowering

Fall

Fall is a good time to leave the bed alone and let the roots settle.

  • Maintenance is low
  • Growth is slow, so avoid digging it up
  • Spreads by rhizomes, so division is the easy way to get more plants

Winter

Wood anemone is hardy to zone 4, so Buffalo winters are within its range.

  • Rated for USDA zones 4a through 8b
  • Nothing is needed over winter
  • It has rhizomes under the soil, ready for spring

Spring

Spring is bloom time, so keep the soil moist and the spot shaded.

  • White flowers open from March to May in warmer places and April to June in cooler ones
  • Keeping soil moist helps prevent problems
  • Partial shade or dappled sun suits it

Summer

Plants often fade away in summer, so mark the spot.

  • One observer notes they disappear in summer
  • Keep soil evenly moist
  • Watch for powdery mildew and leaf spot

Sources: NC State Plant Toolbox: Wood Anemone, Minnesota Wildflowers: Wood Anemone

In an HOA neighborhood

Wood Anemone takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Disappears completely by midsummer leaving bare patches
  • Very informal woodland appearance
  • Can look like weeds or dying plants when emerging or going dormant

Wildlife value

The early spring flowers provide nectar for native bees and beetles when few other food sources are available. However, the plant offers limited wildlife value compared to other native options due to its short bloom period and summer dormancy.

Common questions

How much sun does Wood Anemone need?
Wood Anemone grows best in part shade conditions.
When does Wood Anemone bloom?
Wood Anemone blooms in April and May.
Where is Wood Anemone native?
Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) is native to AL, CT, DE, GA and 26 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
What pollinators does Wood Anemone attract?
Wood Anemone draws bees and beetles.
Is Wood Anemone HOA-friendly?
Wood Anemone takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

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.

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