Thimbleweed, Tall Anemone, Tall Thimbleweed, Anemone virginiana L. and A. cylindrica, Native Minnesota Wildflower plant, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

(Long-fruited Anemone & Tall Anemone). Greenish-white 5 or 6-part flowers appearing singly atop tall stems, the flowers forming an elongated seed head (the "thimble"), this plant grows singly and in clumps. A. cylindrica has slightly longer ( 3/4" to 1 3/4") and more cylindrical seed heads than A. virginiana which are 1/2" to 1 1/4" and can appear slightly oval. In the leaves, A. virginiana has 2 to 3 lower stem leaves in a whorl that are palmately divided and in addition there are two leaf-like bracts midway on some of the flower stems, which number 1 to 3. A. cylindrica has palmately divided lower stem leaves in a whorl of 3 to 10 leaves, no leaf-like bracts on the flower stems, which can be from 2 to 6 per plant. Total plant height is 1 to 3' for either species. Winter Interest: Once the flowers have bloomed, the cylindrical shape seed head continues to expand forming the characteristic thimble shape, hence the common name. These heads turn to yellow and then to brown as the season progresses. Due to the stiffness of the stems they will stay upright through the winter winds and snows creating a visual winter interest in the garden landscape. Many of the tough seed heads will not open until spring and then you will see the white cotton ball like fluff with the seeds embedded.

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Thimbleweed & Tall Thimbleweed	Anemone cylindrica L. & Anemone virginiana L.	Buttercup (RANUNCULACEAE)	Upland	Late Spring to Early Summer
Other names and notes	(Long-fruited Anemone & Tall Anemone). Greenish-white 5 or 6-part flowers appearing singly atop tall stems, the flowers forming an elongated seed head (the "thimble"), this plant grows singly and in clumps. A. cylindrica has slightly longer ( 3/4" to 1 3/4") and more cylindrical seed heads than A. virginiana which are 1/2" to 1 1/4" and can appear slightly oval. In the leaves, A. virginiana has 2 to 3 lower stem leaves in a whorl that are palmately divided and in addition there are two leaf-like bracts midway on some of the flower stems, which number 1 to 3. A. cylindrica has palmately divided lower stem leaves in a whorl of 3 to 10 leaves, no leaf-like bracts on the flower stems, which can be from 2 to 6 per plant. Total plant height is 1 to 3' for either species. Winter Interest: Once the flowers have bloomed, the cylindrical shape seed head continues to expand forming the characteristic thimble shape, hence the common name. These heads turn to yellow and then to brown as the season progresses. Due to the stiffness of the stems they will stay upright through the winter winds and snows creating a visual winter interest in the garden landscape. Many of the tough seed heads will not open until spring and then you will see the white cotton ball like fluff with the seeds embedded.