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Native Plant Society of Texas

Carolina Anemone

Anemone caroliniana

Other common name(s):

Carolina Thimbleweed, Southern Thimbleweed

Family:

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

0.5
to
.5
ft.

Spread

1
to
2.5
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Calcareous, Dry, Gravelly, Sand

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Disturbed Areas, Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Blue, White

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Bees

Maintenance

Prairie anemone is best grown in a bright, sunny areas. In a prairie habitat it often is found in areas that are occasionally burned or that have been heavily grazed. Native habitat: dry prairie, barrens, pastures, meadows, rocky, open woods

Description

Blooms February-May. The stem arises from a tuber, Leaves are basal and deeply three-lobed. Flowers are terminal on stems. They have numerous white to purple, petal-like sepals surrounding many yellow stamens. The fruit is an achene, a small, dry, single-seeded fruit.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ANCA9. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Anemone+caroliniana&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=20606&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=18437#null, 6) https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/plant-week/Anemone-carolinana-Carolina-Prairie-Anemone-03-15-2019.aspx, 7) https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/anemone_caroliniana.shtml, 8) https://prairieecologist.com/tag/anemone-caroliniana/, 9) https://meristemhorticulture.com/planted/anemone-caroliniana#:~:text=And%2C%20they%20dance%20and%20sway,(ten%2Dpetal%20anemone)., 10) https://warcapps.usgs.gov/PlantID/Species/Details/2794

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Choose a well-drained location with partial shade. Amend the soil with compost to enhance drainage and fertility. Sowing the seeds: Scatter seeds sparingly on the soil surface and lightly press them in. No need to bury them deep, as they need light to germinate. Patience, young gardener: Germination typically occurs in spring. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Thin out overcrowded seedlings to provide ample space for growth. For best results, sow seeds in late fall or early winter, allowing them to benefit from natural stratification (a period of cold temperatures that stimulates germination). 1) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-anemone-caroliniana/
Bud Division Carefully dig up the clump, ensuring you get a good root system. Using a sharp, clean knife or garden spade, divide the clump into smaller sections, each with healthy roots and shoots. Replant the divisions at the same depth they were growing previously. Water thoroughly and mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Divide established clumps in early spring or fall when the plant is dormant. 1) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-anemone-caroliniana/

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason