Anemone virginiana

Tall thimbleweed’s foliage and flowers are arranged in tier-like fashion, drawing the observer into the multi-level, miniature world of the shade garden. Uppermost on the plant, white blossoms are crowned with yellow, pollen-producing anthers that attract a variety of small bees and flies. After the flower fades, it becomes a seedhead that is at first green and bristly, and later fluffy and white as it releases its seeds to the wind.

An inhabitant of woodlands both moist and dry, tall thimbleweed prefers partial shade and moderate moisture but can handle full shade and fairly dry soil. Tall thimbleweed spreads slowly by rhizomes to form a colony of plants, but it is not aggressive in the garden. The plant’s June bloom time makes it especially useful in shade gardens, where it follows the spring bloom of forest wildflowers like wild geranium, foamflower, Jacob’s ladder, and ragwort species. Tall thimbleweed is generally unbothered by deer and rabbits, further increasing its garden appeal.

References: 1,2,3,4.

Photos 1 and 2 by Ashley Keesling. Photo 3 by Julie Slater.