The flowers that show the way in the dark forest like white stars on the ground release feelings of spring. But be careful: the wood anemone is poisonous. What else is there to know about this plant?
What are important properties of the wood anemone?
The wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa) belongs to the buttercup family, is poisonous and is protected. It blooms from March to April, prefers semi-shady to shady locations and requires little care. Propagation occurs through rhizome division or self-sowing.
In profile form: You should know these facts
- Plant family: Buttercup family
- Botanical name: Anemone nemorosa
- Origin: Europe
- Growth: herbaceous, ground-covering, upright
- Foliage: deciduous, pinnate
- Flowering time: March to April
- Location: partially shaded to shady
- Soil: permeable, humus-rich, nutrient-rich, moist
- Care: undemanding
- Propagation: sowing, division of rhizomes
- Special features: poisonous, is protected
Other names, natural occurrence and toxicity
While the wood anemone is known to botanists as Anemone nemorosa, it is known regionally under other titles. It is also known under the names witch's flower, forest anemone, march flower, fat flower and old women.
The wood anemone is often found in deciduous forests. There it likes to grow under the crown of leafless trees. It also feels particularly at home in damp meadows and floodplains. It is protected throughout Germany.
The wood anemone is known to be poisonous in all parts of the plant. When fresh, the plant is toxic to both humans and animals. Only when the plant parts are dried are they harmless because the toxin they contain is converted during drying. When fresh, the wood anemone damages:
- Digestive system
- Kidneys
- nervous system
Viewed from bottom up
A creeping rhizome up to 30 cm long forms in the underground. While it overwinters in the ground, it produces 2- to 3-split pinnate, deep green leaves in spring. Together with its flowers, the wood anemone reaches a height of up to 20 cm.
The flowering period of the wood anemone lasts from March to April/May. Normally one flower appears per plant. It is star-shaped and colored white, pink, purple or blue. At night and when it rains, the flower head bends towards the ground. It produces 20 single-seeded follicles that are reminiscent of small nuts.
Location and care requirements
The low location requirements make the wood anemone a welcome guest in the garden. It prefers to grow where other flowers don't grow - in partial shade to light shade. Just 2 hours of sun per day is enough for him.
This plant does not necessarily need fertilizer. She should not receive a cut either. Otherwise there is a risk that it will die. Only watering is important to them. From February/March onwards, the ground beneath her should be kept moist. The wood anemone can cope well with dry times.
The wood anemone can be easily propagated using its underground rhizomes. These can be dug up in winter and cut into pieces and replanted in other places. In addition, the plant multiplies quickly through self-sowing.
Tips & Tricks
Due to the small number of flowers (1 per plant), the wood anemone only looks expressive when planted in groups.
