Wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa)

Wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa) is a bulbous (or similar) plant that can grow 10cm – 50cm tall and 10cm – 50cm wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa).
This plant has several common names including: wood anemone, lady’s nightcap, moonflower, nightcaps, old woman’s nest, wind-flower, wood crowfoot or wood windflower.
This is a deciduous plant that takes 2-5 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: wood anemone, lady’s nightcap, moonflower, nightcaps, old woman’s nest, wind-flower, wood crowfoot, wood windflower
Scientific name: Anemone nemorosa
Plant type: Bulbs
Habit: Columnar / Upright
Height: 10cm – 50cm
Spread: 10cm – 50cm
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Partial shade
Soil: Chalk, Clay, Loam
Moisture: Moist but well drained
Garden type: Informal Garden, Rock & Gravel Garden, Wildflower meadow
Planting type: Flower borders and bedding
Seasonal colors
Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spring | ||||
Summer | ||||
Autumn | ||||
Winter |

How to plant Wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa) – Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bulbous plants are found all over the world in habitats as diverse as woods, meadows, riverbanks, rocky hills and mountains.
There are bulbs suitable for all types of garden design.
Most have their own limited flowering season, but with careful planning it is possible to combine this period of interest with the other plants in the garden.
How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa) is not a demanding plant regarding the type of soil and can grow in chalk, clay or loam.
-
The chalky soil is pale and contains chunks of calcium-rich rock. It is a fertile and well-draining soil, almost always alkaline.
-
Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).
-
The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Anemone nemorosa likes to grow in moist but well drained soil.
Sunlight
Wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa) should be grown in partial shade places.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa) – Uoaei1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons