Each time I find a new native plant growing on the property, it feels like I’ve been given a gift.  Just uphill from the area just cleared of French Broom, on an east facing slope, there is a small delicate colony of Anemone oregana just beginning to flower.

Anemone oregana

Anemone oregana, also known as Western Wood Anemone or Western Wind-flower, is native to western North America, from Washington state south to Monterey county, California.  This flower is typically found in redwood or mixed evergreen forests and riparian woodlands.

Flower buds of Anemone oregana

Anemone oregana

Anemone oregana

Anemone oregana

The Western Wood Anemone is a member of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae.  Plants grow between 10-25 cm tall from underground rhizomes in shaded woodland, and on open hillsides.  The flowers usually appear in March through May, and can be variable in color, ranging from blue or purple, to pink or white.  Here we seem to have predominantly a white or pale lavender form of the flowers.

Some flowers of Anemone oregana appear more lavender blue

Anemone oregana

Anemone oregana

Anemone oregana does not have petals per se, but 5 petal-like sepals borne on a single stem with three leaf-like bracts.  The flowers of this species typically contain 30-60 stamens.

Leaves of Anemone oregana

As the flowers fade, the developing seeds are revealed

Common companion plants growing along side our anemones include Western Sword Ferns and Trillium ovatum.

Anemone oregana can be propagated from seeds and cuttings, and requires damp, well-drained soil to grow.  Much like our Trilliums though, Anemone oregana seems very particular about where it chooses to grow here, so for now, I’ll leave the propagation of this lovely deminutive wildflower, to nature.