Wind Flower, Wood anemone, Twoleaf anemone, Nightcaps
Anemone quinquefolia
Family: Ranunculaceae
What it is like
Anemone quinquefolia is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower in May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.
Height (m): 0.3
Where it is found
Moist open woods, thickets, clearings, streamsides, occasionally swampy areas at elevations from 30 - 1900 metres.
Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Georgia, western Ontario, Minnesota and Tennessee.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 1
Employed as a rubefacient in the treatment of rheumatism, gout and fevers, it is also used as a vesicant in the removal of corns.
Rubefacient: A counter-irritant and external stimulant, it produces inflammation and redness of the skin.
Vesicant: A blistering agent.
Other
Rating:
How it is grown
Succeeds in ordinary garden soil but prefers a moist well-drained woodland soil. Prefers a moist peaty soil in some shade. Tolerates drought during its summer dormancy. Hardy to at least -20°c. This species is very closely related to A . grayi, A . lancifolia, A . lyallii, A . oregana, and A . Piperi. This species complex also shares close morphologic affinities with both European species such as A . nemorosa and Asian species such as A . Altaica Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes. A good woodland plant.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the summer. Surface sow or only just cover the seed and keep the soil moist. Sow stored seed as soon as possible in late winter or early spring. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 6 months at 15°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first year. When the plants are large enough, plant them out in the spring. Division in late summer after the plant dies down.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 6-9
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Full shade, semi-shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
All parts of this plant contain protoanemonin, an irritating acrid oil that is an enzymatic breakdown product of the glycoside ranunculin. While protoanemonin can cause severe topical and gastrointestinal irritation, it is unstable and changes into harmless anemonin when plants are dried or heated. An extremely acrid plant, even small doses causing a great disturbance of the stomach.