Practical
Plants

Anemone quinquefolia

Wind Flower

a perennial member of the Anemone genus in the family Ranunculaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Anemone
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.3 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Flies, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Self

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An extremely acrid plant, even small doses causing a great disturbance of the stomach[5].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Employed as a rubefacient in the treatment of rheumatism, gout and fevers, it is also used as a vesicant in the removal of corns[5].

Product or use
Rubefacient
Product or use
Vesicant

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Georgia, western Ontario, Minnesota and Tennessee.
Habitat
Moist open woods, thickets, clearings, streamsides, occasionally swampy areas at elevations from 30 - 1900 metres[7].
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the summer[1]. 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[2]. 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.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil but prefers a moist well-drained woodland soil[1][4]. Prefers a moist peaty soil in some shade[3]. Tolerates drought during its summer dormancy[4]. Hardy to at least -20°c[3]. This species is closely related to A. nemorosa[4]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[6]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[8]. A good woodland plant[1][3].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00

    ↩

  3. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  6. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  7. Flora of N. America http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/

    ↩

  8. Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-584-10141-4

    ↩

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