Anemonastrum canadense

In mid-spring, Canada anemone’s broad white blooms bask in the rising warmth of the season. Everything about the plant suggests a zest for living, from its upward-facing flowers and foliage to its eager tendency to spread. The latter quality can be either a boon or a bane in the garden, depending on one’s goals and the site-specific growing conditions. If looking for a groundcover for consistently moist soils with at least partial sunlight, Canada anemone is a perfect fit. But if one is hoping to cultivate a diversity of plants under those same conditions, Canada anemone will likely prove too competitive. This is especially true within the spatial constraints of a typical garden bed. In somewhat drier situations – often associated with full sun – there is a better chance that Canada anemone will cooperate with its neighbors, complementing other spring bloomers like Golden Alexander and Ohio spiderwort.

In terms of wildlife value, Canada anemone has a lot to offer in spite of the fact that its flowers do not produce nectar. The plant’s pollen is reward enough for pollinators, and common visitors include a variety of bees, beetles, and hover flies. Native long-horned beetles feed on Canada anemone pollen as adults, and as larvae consume dead and dying wood, burrowing into the bases of various tree species. Abandoned beetle burrows serve as nesting sites for bees, including yellow-faced bees, which also frequent Canada anemone when foraging for pollen. Placing old logs or other decaying wood in the garden diversifies the space and also provides shelter and nesting opportunities to bees, beetles, and other beneficial insects.