1 named cultivar

‘Double White’Rue Anemone Double White

perennialN. America Native

Rue Anemone

The Story

Plant Bio

Anemonella thalictroides, rue anemone, is a delicate clumping woodland perennial native to eastern and central North America, only four to eight inches high. Slender reddish-brown stems carry finely divided blue-green leaflets, and cup-shaped white or pink flowers with showy sepals open in loose clusters in early spring.

It is a spring ephemeral: it flowers, sets seed and dies back completely by early summer, which is normal and not failure. Mark the position, since the dormant tubers are easily destroyed by a spade in July. Its hollow dead stems are used by stem-nesting bees, so leave the spent growth rather than tidying it away.

Uses & Benefits:

Delicate white or pink cup-shaped flowers over fine blue-green foliage, very early in spring.

One of the daintiest natives for a shaded woodland floor, needing no attention once settled.

Feeds bees and moths in early spring, and the hollow dead stems shelter stem-nesting bees.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

7 inches

Width

6 inches

Light

Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Eastern and central North America

Toxicity

Mildly toxic if eaten

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in dappled to deep shade under deciduous trees.
Give it moist, humus-rich, freely draining soil.
Mark the position before it dies back.
Leave the dead stems standing for nesting bees.
Mulch with leaf mould each autumn.
Avoid disturbing the soil once dormant.

Pro Tip

It vanishes entirely by midsummer, so mark the clump — far more plants are lost to a summer spade than to any pest.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant it under deciduous trees 🌳
Mark the clump before dormancy 📍
Leave dead stems for nesting bees 🐝
Mulch with leaf mould in autumn 🍂

Don't

Dig near the dormant tubers ❌
Assume summer dieback is failure ❌
Let the soil dry hard in spring ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Mark
Mulch

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Native woodland and shade gardenSpring ephemeral planting under treesRock garden in cool shaded pockets

Companion Plants

Wild Ginger Foamflower Christmas Fern Woodland Phlox Bloodroot

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Rue Anemone questions

What zones can Rue Anemone grow in?

Rue Anemone is hardy in USDA Zones 4–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Rue Anemone deer resistant?

Yes — Rue Anemone is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Rue Anemone bloom?

Rue Anemone typically blooms in early spring through early summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Rue Anemone need full sun?

Rue Anemone does best in part shade.