Anemonoides nemorosa (syn. Anemone nemorosa), the wood anemone, is an early-spring flowering plant with common names including windflower, and European thimbleweed.

The flowers are solitary, with six or seven (and on rare occasions eight to ten) tepals (petal-like segments) with many stamens. In the wild the flowers are usually white but may be pinkish, lilac or blue, and often have a darker tint on the backs of the tepals.

In North America, there are naturalized populations at well-known sites in Newfoundland, Quebec, and Massachusetts.

A. nemorosa is often found in shady woods. The species is common in the British Isles but it spreads very slowly there, by as little as six feet per century, so it is often used as an indicator for ancient woodland.

Type: Hardy perennial

Hardiness zones: 5-8

Height: 8-10", 20-25 cm

Location: Shade or part shade

Seeds per packet: 20