This species is very closely related to Anemone grayi, Anemone lancifolia, Anemone lyallii, Anemone oregana, and Anemone piperi. This species complex also shares close morphologic affinities with both European species such as Anemone nemorosa and Asian species such as Anemone altaica[]

Common Name: Wind Flower

General Information

Anemone quinquefolia is a herbaceous perennial producing shoots 5 - 30cm tall from a rhizomatous rootstock. The plant can form quite large colonies[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

Known Hazards

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[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eastern N. America - Alberta to nova Scotia, south to Alabama, Georgia and South carolina

Habitat

Moist open woods, thickets, clearings, streamsides, occasionally swampy areas; at elevations from 30 - 1,900 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Hardy to at least -20°c[].
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[].
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[, ].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

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

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 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.