Anemone quinquefolia L.
Wood anemone
Wood anemone is a North American native found in woodland habitats. Anemone is a corruption of the Semitic name for Adonis, whose blood was said to have brought forth the red-flowered anemone of the orient. Or, in a perfect example of how the origins of names are sometimes lost in the mists of history, Anemone could be from the Greek ánemos plus ōnē meaning “daughter of the wind,” a flower that can only open at the wind’s bidding. Either way, quinquefolia means “five-leaved,” and wood anemones are part of the family of buttercups.
Plants: Wood anemone, which spreads quickly via its root system, is often found covering large areas of woodland floors. It reaches heights of 1¾–12″ (5–30 cm) in the spring, and dies back to its root system later in the season.
Leaves: In groups of five or sometimes three, arranged evenly around the stem. Each leaf is about twice as long as it is wide, up to 2″ (5 cm) long.
Flowers: White or tinged with purple, often nodding, up to ¾″ (1.9 cm) across, with five petals (actually tepals).
Fruits:
Habitats: Moist open woods, thickets, and clearings. It is also found along streams and occasionally in swampy areas.
Edibility: I couldn’t find any definite information, but
most members of the buttercup family are poisonous 
, so wood anemone should be
assumed poisonous as well.
Online References:
Flora of North America (Anemone quinquefolia var. quinquefolia)
5/9/2016 · Wonder Brook Park, Kennebunk Lan, Kennebunk, Maine 
4/17/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 15 cm) 
4/23/2021 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 2½ × 2″ (6.1 × 6 cm) 
5/18/2025 · Center Point Preserve, Bowdoinham, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 4½″ (12 × 11 cm) 
5/17/2021 · Bijhouwer Forest, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 2½ × 2½″ (7 × 6.4 cm) 
5/7/2023 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine 
5/11/2025 · Mill Pond Preserve, Arrowsic, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (12 × 8.4 cm) 
4/28/2016 · Old Long Loop, Beaver Brook Stat, Hollis, New Hampshire 
4/23/2010 · Nashua Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 3 × 3″ (8.5 × 7.7 cm) 
5/18/2025 · Center Point Preserve, Bowdoinham, Maine · ≈ 5 × 5″ (13 × 12 cm) 
4/28/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
5/4/2023 · Tarbox Preserve, Topsham, Maine 
4/28/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain 
5/9/2016 · Wonder Brook Park, Kennebunk Lan, Kennebunk, Maine 
5/18/2021 · Cathance River Nature Preserve, Topsham, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) 
5/26/2018 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 5″ (15 × 13 cm) 
5/12/2014 · Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire · ≈ 3½ × 3″ (9 × 8.3 cm) 
The purple leaves are uncommon. · 4/30/2013 · Acton Arboretum, Acton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 7″ (18 × 16 cm) 
5/7/2023 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine 
5/7/2013 · J. Harry Rich Dirt Road, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 4″ (12 × 10 cm) 
4/29/2013 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 4 × 3½″ (10 × 9 cm) 
4/22/2016 · Wildflower Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 4 × 3½″ (11 × 9.1 cm) 
4/22/2010 · Stan and Connie’s Yard, Falmouth, Maine · By Constance B. Kent 
5/9/2016 · Wonder Brook Park, Kennebunk Lan, Kennebunk, Maine 
5/12/2023 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine 
5/7/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 7 × 5″ (18 × 13 cm) 
4/17/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 4″ (11 × 10 cm) 
5/17/2024 · Robert P. Tristam Coffin Wildflower Preserve, Woolwich, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 8 cm) 
5/4/2012 · Blue Trail, Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 4″ (12 × 10 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | Includes magnolias, nutmeg, bay laurel, cinnamon, avocado, black pepper, and many others |
| Order | Ranunculales | Basal (evolved earlier) eudicots, also called “true dicots” |
| Family | Ranunculaceae | Buttercup family |
| Genus | Anemone | From Greek anemos, “wind” |
| Species | quinquefolia | “Five-leaved” |
Anemone quinquefolia description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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