Common Name: Tall Thimbleweed

General Information

Anemone virginiana is a herbaceous, perennial plant producing 1 - 5 basal leaves 10 - 40cm tall and flowering shoots 30 - 100cm tall[]. The plant spreads at the roots to form clumps.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Known Hazards

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, many members of this genus 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[, , , , ].

Botanical References

,

Range

Central and Eastern N. America - North Dakota to Maine, south to Arkansas and Georgia

Habitat

Dry open woods[]. Dry, rocky, open woods, thickets and river banks; at elevations from sea level to 2,000 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Anemone virginiana experiences cold winters in northern USA, with temperatures falling below -20°c, whilst in the south of its range winters are much milder, with temperatures rarely dropping below -5°c.
Succeeds in ordinary garden soil but prefers a moist well-drained woodland soil[, ]. Prefers a moist peaty soil in some shade, tolerating deep shade[, ]. Tolerates drought during its summer dormancy[].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].
A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The root and seeds are astringent, emetic and expectorant[]. A decoction of the roots was used in the treatment of TB, whooping cough and diarrhoea[, ].
The root is pulverised and used as a wet poultice in the treatment of boils[, , ].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

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 20°c[]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on for at least their first year in a lightly shaded place in a greenhouse. When large enough, plant them out into their permanent positions in the spring.
Division in late summer after the plant dies down.