Image: AI generated
Wood Anemone Plant Care
Anemone nemorosa L.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Anemonoides nemorosa, the wood anemone, is an early-spring flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to Europe. Other common names include windflower, European thimbleweed, and smell fox, an allusion to the musky smell of the leaves.
Every 3–5 days
Partial shade to full sun
50–75°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Wood Anemone?
Water Wood Anemone every 3–5 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it partial shade to full sun. It prefers temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.
Where Is the Wood Anemone Native To?
- Albania
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- The Netherlands
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
What Is the Wood Anemone?
Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) belongs to the Ranunculaceae family within the Anemone genus. Wood Anemone is native to Europe. Wood Anemone is also known as Windflower.
Wood Anemone displays a clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Wood Anemone produces showy, colorful flowers in shades of white, pink, purple, or blue.
Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Wood Anemone?
Anemone nemorosa requires watering every 3–5 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 3–5 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Wood Anemone Need?
Wood Anemone thrives in partial shade to full sun.
Light Requirement
Partial shade to full sun
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Wood Anemone Prefer?
Anemone nemorosa grows best at temperatures of 50–75°F. Wood Anemone prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
50–75°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Wood Anemone?
Rich, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Wood Anemone to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Wood Anemone?
Feed Wood Anemone every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Wood Anemone?
Divide and repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Wood Anemone?
Wood Anemone can be propagated through division, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to japanese anemone plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Wood Anemone Toxic to Pets and Children?
Toxic (caution)
Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.
Toxic if ingested, may cause skin irritation
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Wood Anemone?
Wood Anemone is susceptible to aphids, slugs, snails. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Wood Anemone Need?
Wood Anemone grows outdoors in USDA Zone 4a – 8b. It survives winters down to planting zone 4a. Wood Anemone is native to Europe.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 4a – 8b
Keep exploring plants
Wood Anemone is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Anemone genus — compare its care with other Anemone species on PlantoScan.
Anemone is part of the Ranunculaceae plant family — browse all Ranunculaceae genera and species.
Wood Anemone thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Anemone nemorosa L., family Ranunculaceae (first published in Sp. Pl. : 541 (1753)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record, Wikidata.
- Pet toxicity: Wood Anemone is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: AI-generated illustration (labelled on the image).
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 4a – 8b, estimated from the plant's typical growing conditions.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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