(Crown Windflower, Saint Bridgid Crown Windflower)

Native to the Mediterranean, poppy-flowered anemone is a tender, often short-lived perennial with showy flowers in late winter, early spring, or a few months after its bumpy tubers are planted. Cultivars in the Saint Brigid group have semi-double red, violet, blue, or white flowers with three rows of "petals". Borne on calf-high stems above clumps of divided, ferny leaves, the solitary, poppy-like blooms have a large, usually dark central disk. Often planted at intervals to provide continual year-round...

(European Wood Anemone)

A familiar and beloved wildflower of European woodlands, this hardy perennial spangles the forest floor with white flowers in early spring. The cupped, six- to eight-lobed blooms open wide in bright light to reveal a central starburst of bright yellow anthers. The solitary flowers are borne atop compact stems clothed with heavily dissected, three-parted leaves. Similar leaves arise directly from the ground. The foliage goes dormant by midsummer. Plants grow from a branching underground network of...

(European Wood Anemone, Robinsoniana European Wood Anemone)

A familiar and beloved hardy perennial from European forests, wood anemone spangles the shaded garden with dainty flowers in early spring. Bearing colorful blossoms that are bright lavender-blue inside and gray-white outside, 'Robinsoniana' is named after famed horticulturist William Robinson, who selected it in about 1870. The cupped, six- to eight-lobed blooms open wide in bright light to reveal a central starburst of bright yellow anthers. The solitary flowers are borne atop compact stems clothed...

(Wood Ginger)

A yellow-flowered version of the much beloved European wood anemone, this hardy perennial from northern Europe and western Asia bears its sunny flowers in early spring. The cupped, five- to eight-lobed blooms open wide in bright light to reveal a central boss of bright yellow anthers. The solitary flowers are borne atop compact stems clothed with heavily dissected, three-parted leaves. Similar leaves arise directly from the ground. The foliage goes dormant by midsummer. Plants grow from a branching...

(Snowdrop Windflower, Woodland Anemone)

This anemone, sometimes called the snowdrop windflower, is a hardy, herbaceous perennial that flowers strongly in early spring. It is a native of northern, eastern and central Europe. The plant grows as a mounded clump of leaves that are maple-shaped but deeply divided to the point of looking toothy. The leaves arise from a woody, spreading root and the plant can be invasive, as it spreads rapidly by sending up new plants (suckers) from its roots. In spring, the plant lifts up a forest of tall flower...

(Madonna Woodland Anemone, Snowdrop Windflower, Woodland Anemone)

The Madonna woodland anemone, sometimes called the snowdrop windflower, is a hardy, herbaceous perennial that flowers strongly in early spring. It is a native of northern, eastern and central Europe. Selection 'Madonna' grows as a shorter-growing mounded clump of leaves that are maple-shaped but deeply divided to the point of looking toothy. The leaves arise from a woody, spreading root and the plant can be invasive, as it spreads rapidly by sending up new plants (suckers) from its roots. In spring,...

(Anemone, Fuzzy Grapeleaf Anemone)

Even when not displaying the pale pink flowers by early fall, the fuzzy grapeleaf anemone warrants a look because of its foliage. All across the highland grassland slopes of central China this herbaceous perennial wildflower prospers. It forms a clump of attractive leaves that rises from a semi-woody, fibrous root system. Plants readily spread because of the underground shoots.

The green leaves rise from the roots to create a basal rosette as well as appear on the upright flower stems. Each leaf...

(Anemone, Fuzzy Grapeleaf Anemone, Rose Beauty Anemone)

Easy to start from seed and becoming a showpiece in the perennial garden, the Rose Beauty fuzzy grapeleaf anemone boasts a long season of rose and pink blossoms. This species is native to the highland grassland slopes of central China. It forms a clump of attractive leaves that rises from a semi-woody, fibrous root system. Plants readily spread because of the underground shoots.

The green leaves rise from the roots to create a basal rosette as well as appear on the upright flower stems. Each...

(Tall Thimbleweed)

A beautiful, spreading wildflower native to much of eastern North America, tall thimbleweed offers lush mats of upright, palm-shaped foliage and delicate white summer flowers. Native populations inhabit open woods and prairies that range from dry and rocky to somewhat moist and fertile. There are three variants, var. cylindroidea, var. virginiana and var. alba, which differ in floral characteristics, distribution and vigor.

The bright to medium green leaves of tall...

(Grapeleaf Anemone, Vine Anemone)

Attractive, grapeleaf-shaped foliage makes an exquisite backdrop to the vine anemone's white flowers that appear by late summer. This herbaceous perennial is native to high elevation, open woodlands and fields from northern India to southwestern China and northern Myanmar, including the Himalayan nations of Bhutan and Nepal. It develops into a mounded but spreading clump with meandering roots that sprout new leafy growth.

The grapeleaf anemone's stems often flop and resemble short vines. The...