Bloomipedia
Canada anemone (Anemonastrum canadense)
Photo: Brighton Lee via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Canada anemone

Anemonastrum canadense

Canada anemone is a flowering plant. It's on our flower lists for 6 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

–states
6of our state lists
13,758U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin

Quick look

Anemonastrum canadense, synonym Anemone canadensis, the Canada anemone, round-headed anemone, round-leaf thimbleweed, meadow anemone, windflower, or crowfoot, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae. It is native to moist meadows, thickets, streambanks, and lakeshores in North America, spreading rapidly by underground rhizomes. It is valued for its white flowers.

  • It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. iNaturalist
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota and North Dakota. NatureServe
  • In Minnesota, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
  • In Michigan, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,206 research-grade sightings of it in Minnesota, ranking #26 among the 110 flowers on our Minnesota list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,080 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #75 among the 111 flowers on our Michigan list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,858 research-grade sightings of it in Wisconsin, ranking #81 among the 109 flowers on our Wisconsin list. iNaturalist

Canada anemone gift ideas

Handmade canada anemone gifts from independent makers.

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,332 records)
Bloom time in each of our 6 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
MinnesotaNativeMay–July3,206
MichiganNativeMay–July2,080
WisconsinNativeMay–July1,858
IowaNativeMay–July564
South DakotaNativefew records257
North DakotaNativeJune195

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Minnesota
Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Minnesota. Minn. R. 6134.0300
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Michigan. R 299.1028
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Wisconsin. NR 27.03
Iowa
Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Iowa. IAC 571-77.3
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Dakota.
North Dakota
No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in North Dakota.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: CT (S2), DC (SH), KY (SX), MD (SH), NJ (S1), TN (SX), VA (SH), WV (S1), WY (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant)) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS has no state-by-state distribution for this name, so we can't map it yet.

More Minnesota flowers

Sources