SEED ORDERS OVER $100 SHIP FREE!
Anemone canadensis

Canada Anemone

$3.00 - $40.00

Packet
$3.00
1/8 oz.
$10.00
1/4 oz.
$15.00
1/2 oz.
$25.00
1 oz.
$40.00

Bare Root Plants
$8.00

3 Pack
$24.00
Tray of 50
Out of Stock

Hardy native ground covers can be hard to find. We all want something that looks nice, handles some trampling, and spreads readily. The problem is, most people tend to settle with European species like periwinkle (Vinca minor), which readily can escape cultivation and invade natural areas. We have a wonderful alternative that is sure to knock your socks off... meet Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis). 

As far as ground covers go, this is the real deal. Blooming from May through June, Canada Anemone is quite hardy. Its low stature can even keep it out of the way of a lawn mower if you so choose. While it will reseed readily if populations are large enough, it mostly spreads by rhizomes. In only a few seasons, a few plants can quickly become a beautiful mat of white flowers. Even when not in bloom, the foliage is quite attractive. Plan wisely when planting this species. Its hardiness coupled with its tendency to spread may cause it to overwhelm smaller plants. Other Common Names in use: Canadian Anemone, Meadow Anemone

*This species may be difficult and/or slow to germinate and grow to maturity.  Please note the germination code.

Live Plant Shipping Table

Spring Fall Age/Size
Dormant Bare Roots
April/May October 1 year
Potted 3-Packs May/June September 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep pots
Potted Tray of 50 May August 2" wide x 5" deep plugs

Anemone canadensis - Canada Anemone

Map Key

Present in state
Present but introduced in county
Present and native in county; not rare
Not present in state
Present and native in county; rare
Species extirpated (historic)
State or county listed as noxious
Present in state; exotic

This map shows the native and introduced (adventive) range of this species. Given appropriate habitat and climate, native plants can be grown outside their range.

5 Questions asked on Anemone canadensis

Can these anemones be grown under pine trees, or is the soil too acidic from the needles?
Thanks for writing, Cindy. We’ve seen research indicating that pine needles have less effect on soil pH than commonly thought. You might start modestly to see how these plants will do on your site. Transplanting some bare roots would be the quickest route to establishment. Seed is more economical but can take a couple of years to even begin to sprout.
Will this plant go dormant in mid-summer?
The leaves will stick around once its done flowering making it a good choice for a ground cover!
When should I expect them to come up in the spring? I planted several bare roots in the fall, but there is no sign of them yet.
Hi Sheila, When to expect emergence depends on where you are geographically. We have not seen our Canada Anenome emerge here in Minnesota yet. With newly transplanted bare roots, we ask that you wait until early-mid June for emergence. Plants that have been recently moved can be stressed out, and it is not uncommon to have these plants emerge later than plants that are already established.
Can Canada Anemone grow under black walnut trees?
Yes! Canada Anemone can be grown under Black Walnut trees. You can see more plants tolerant to juglone here.
I'm looking to convert my "hellstrip" (area between road and sidewalk) to native plants. The area is shaded by a silver maple as well nearby houses. Would Canada Anemone be suitable for this space? Is it salt tolerant? If it would be a good fit, do you have a recommendation for how many plants to put in a 3'x25' area? Thanks in advance!
Hi Alison. Canada Anemone is an incredibly resilient species and should excel in that site! Although we have not tested this plant for salt tolerance, several other sources do list that as a characteristic! Once it is established and happy, Canada Anemone can spread, sometimes quite aggressively. We recommend spacing plants 6-12" apart.

Seed

Growing your own plants from seed is the most economical way to add natives to your home. Before you get started, one of the most important things to know about the seeds of wild plants is that many have built-in dormancy mechanisms that prevent the seed from germinating. In nature, this prevents a population of plants from germinating all at once, before killing frosts, or in times of drought. To propagate native plants, a gardener must break this dormancy before seed will grow.

Each species is different, so be sure to check the GERMINATION CODE listed on the website, in the catalog, or on your seed packet. Then, follow the GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS prior to planting. Some species don't need any pre-treatment to germinate, but some species have dormancy mechanisms that must be broken before the seed will germinate. Some dormancy can be broken in a few minutes, but some species take months or even years.

Seed dormancy can be broken artificially by prolonged refrigeration of damp seed in the process of cold/moist STRATIFICATION. A less complicated approach is to let nature handle the stratifying through a dormant seeding, sowing seeds on the surface of a weed-free site in late fall or winter. Tucked safely beneath the snow, seeds will be conditioned by weathering to make germination possible in subsequent growing seasons.

To learn more, read our BLOG: How to Germinate Native Seeds

Dormant Bare Root Plants

We dig plants when they are dormant from our outdoor beds and ship them April-May and October. Some species go dormant in the summer and we can ship them July/August. We are among the few still employing this production method, which is labor intensive but plant-friendly. They arrive to you dormant, with little to no top-growth (bare-root), packed in peat moss. They should be planted as soon as possible. Unlike greenhouse-grown plants, bare-root plants can be planted during cold weather or anytime the soil is not frozen. A root photo is included with each species to illustrate the optimal depth and orientation. Planting instructions/care are also included with each order.

Download: Installing Your Bare-Root Plants

Potted Plants

3-packs and trays of 32, 38, or 50 plants leave our Midwest greenhouses based on species readiness (being well-rooted for transit) and order date; Spring shipping is typically early May through June, and Fall shipping is mid-August through September. Potted 3-packs and trays of 38 plugs are started from seed in the winter so are typically 3-4 months old when they ship. Trays of 32/50 plugs are usually overwintered so are 1 year old. Plant tray cells are approximately 2” wide x 5” deep in the trays of 38 and 50, and 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep in the 3-packs and trays of 32; ideal for deep-rooted natives. Full-color tags and planting & care instructions are included with each order.

Download: Planting and Care of Potted Plants

*PLEASE NOTE: we are a mail order nursery and have no retail facilities, but you may pick up your order if prior arrangements are made. Pick up orders are subject to **MN Sales Tax.

Shipping & Handling Charges

SEED $100.00 and under: $5.00
Retail SEED orders over $100.00 ship free!

Custom seed mixes or discounted seed sales over $100, add 5% of the total seed cost
(for orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required)

BARE ROOT and POTTED PLANTS $50.00 and under: $9.00
over $50.00: 18% of the total plant cost. (For orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required.)

TOOLS and BOOKS have the shipping fee included in the cost of the product (within the contiguous US).

**We are required to collect state sales tax in certain states. Your state's eligibility and % will be calculated at checkout. MN State Sales Tax of 7.375% is applied for orders picked up at our MN location. Shipping & handling charges are also subject to the sales tax.

Shipping Season

SEED, TOOLS and BOOKS are sent year-round. Most orders ship within 1-3 business days.

BARE ROOT PLANTS are shipped during optimal transplanting time: Spring (April-May) and Fall (Oct). Some ephemeral species are also available for summer shipping. Since our plants are field-grown, Nature sets the schedule each year as to when our season will begin and end. We fill all orders, on a first-come, first-serve basis, to the best of our ability depending on weather conditions beyond our control.

POTTED PLANTS (Trays of 32/38/50 plugs and 3-packs) typically begin shipping early May and go into June; shipping time is heavily dependent on all the species in your order being well-rooted. If winter-spring greenhouse growing conditions are favorable and all species are well-rooted at once, then we ship by order date (first come, first serve). We are a Midwest greenhouse, and due to the challenges of getting all the species in the Mix & Match and Pre-Designed Garden Kits transit-ready at the same time, we typically can't ship before early May. Earlier shipment requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

*We are unable to ship PLANTS (bare root or potted) outside the contiguous US or to CALIFORNIA due to regulations.

Delivery

We ship using USPS, UPS and Spee Dee. UPS and Spee Dee are often used for expediting plant orders; they will not deliver to Post Office Box numbers, so please also include your street address if ordering plants. We send tracking numbers to your email address so please include it when you order.

FOR MORE DETAILED SHIPPING INFORMATION, INCLUDING CANADA SHIPPING RATES (SEED ONLY), PLEASE SEE 'SHIPPING' AT THE FOOTER OF THIS WEBSITE.

Details

Seeds/Packet
200
Seeds/Ounce
8,000
Germination Code
F
Life Cycle
Perennial
Sun Exposure
Full, Partial
Soil Moisture
Medium-Wet, Medium
Height
12 inches
Bloom Time
May, June
Bloom Color
White
Advantages
Recommended for home landscaping but potentially aggressive; could overwhelm small landscapes
USDA Zones
3-8
Plant Spacing
6-12"
Catalog Code
ANE02F