ExplorePlants

rue anemone

Thalictrum thalictroides

Rue anemone is a pretty little flower that blooms in spring. Its delicate white petals and yellow centers make it look like tiny stars in the forest!

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The rue anemone is a delicate woodland plant with airy, white to sometimes pinkish flowers that resemble tiny stars. Its leaves are finely divided, similar to a maidenhair fern, giving it a soft, feathery appearance distinct from other early spring bloomers.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRanunculalesFamilyRanunculaceaeGenusThalictrum
rue anemone
deciduous trait badgeflowering trait badgeshade_tolerant trait badgespring_blooming trait badge
rue anemone

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Its name "anemone" comes from a Greek word meaning "windflower," referring to its delicate stems.

Rue anemone leaves look a bit like the herb meadow rue, giving it its common name.

The plant often goes completely dormant by early summer, waiting for next year's spring!

Those beautiful white "petals" on the rue anemone are actually sepals, not true petals!

Special abilities

Ability

Ant Courier Service

Rue anemone has seeds with a fatty cap called an elaiosome that ants carry, helping spread its seeds!

Ability

Early Bird Bloomer

Rue anemone can bloom in early spring, soaking up sunlight before the forest canopy fills in with leaves.

Ability

Ephemeral Act

Rue anemone's leaves and flowers disappear by summer, letting it survive heat and drought underground!

Measurements & details

Height
15-30 cm
Spread
15-30 cm
Flower Size
1-2.5 cm
Bloom Season
Early spring to late spring
Edible
No
Toxicity
Mild
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Red-bellied miner bee

Andrena erythrogaster

Visits flowers for nectar

eaten by

White-tailed deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Browses on its foliage

depends on

Silky field ant

Formica subsericea

Disperses seeds for treats

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult, as some plants can be sensitive.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is rue anemone?

15-30 cm

How wide does rue anemone spread?

15-30 cm

How big are the flowers on rue anemone?

1-2.5 cm

When does rue anemone bloom?

Early spring to late spring

Is rue anemone edible?

No

Is rue anemone toxic?

Mild

What is rue anemone's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is rue anemone pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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