# meadow anemone (*Anemonastrum canadense*) The meadow anemone is a lovely flower that blooms in spring and summer. Its delicate white petals and yellow center make it look like a little star in the grass! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 24 - **Habitat:** Meadows and forest edges ![meadow anemone](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Anemone_canadensis.jpg&width=800) Photo: John B. ( Dendroica cerulea ), CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anemone_canadensis.jpg) ## Appearance The meadow anemone has simple, pure white flowers with 5 to 9 petal-like sepals, surrounding a bright yellow cluster of stamens. Its deeply lobed, dark green leaves contrast beautifully with the bright blooms, making it stand out as it forms lovely colonies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ranunculales - **Family:** Ranunculaceae - **Genus:** Anemonastrum ## Interesting facts - After pollination, the beautiful white flowers can strangely turn green before they wither away. - Even its fluffy seeds are super light and can float on water to travel to new homes! - Its scientific name, Anemonastrum canadense, roughly means 'wind flower of Canada'! - This flower is sometimes called 'Thimbleweed' because its seed heads look like tiny thimbles! ## Special abilities - **Spreading Seeker:** Meadow anemone has \*\*underground stems\*\* (rhizomes) that help it spread easily, creating wide patches of flowers in meadows. - **Bug Blocker:** This plant has \*\*mildly irritating sap\*\* that helps it deter some hungry animals from taking a bite of its leaves. - **Pollinator Beacon:** Its \*\*bright white petals and sunny yellow center\*\* help it attract many busy bees and butterflies for pollination. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-60 cm - **Spread:** 30-90 cm - **Flower Size:** 2.5-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — collects nectar, transferring pollen between flowers. - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar and pollen from its blooms. - **Pollinates:** [Summer Azure](https://www.snappit.app/explore/summer-azure) (*Celastrina neglecta*) — visits flowers to drink nectar. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers unless you know they are safe! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify meadow anemone? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is meadow anemone? 30-60 cm ### How wide does meadow anemone spread? 30-90 cm ### How big are the flowers on meadow anemone? 2.5-5 cm ### When does meadow anemone bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is meadow anemone edible? No ### Is meadow anemone toxic? Mild ### What is meadow anemone's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Black Hawk State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-hawk-state-historic-site) — Illinois, US · Park - [Devil's Kitchen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/devils-kitchen) — Michigan, US · Nature Reserve - [High Trestle Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/high-trestle-trail) — Iowa, US · Trail - [Minnesota Landscape Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/minnesota-landscape-arboretum) — Minnesota, US · Botanical Garden - [Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mitchell-park-horticultural-conservatory) — Wisconsin, US · Botanical Garden - [Parc linéaire de la rivière Saint-Charles](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parc-lin-aire-de-la-rivi-re-saint-charles) — Québec, CA · Park [View all places to see meadow anemone](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/meadow-anemone) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Meadow Anemone: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meadow-anemone)