Wood Anemone (Anemonoides quinquefolia) is in the buttercup family family (Ranunculaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 6,174 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Wood Anemone: observations by month (U.S.)
About Wood Anemone
Anemone quinquefolia is an early-spring flowering plant in the genus Anemone, native to North America. It is commonly called wood anemone, like Anemone nemorosa, a closely related European species. The American species has been treated as a subspecies of Anemone nemorosa.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Wood Anemone by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 1,044 | May | Apr–May |
| Wisconsin | 675 | May | May–May |
| Vermont | 646 | May | May–May |
| North Carolina | 544 | April | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 509 | May | May–May |
| Connecticut | 356 | April | Apr–May |
| New York | 296 | April | Apr–May |
| Maine | 247 | May | May–May |
| Illinois | 239 | April | Apr–May |
| New Hampshire | 235 | May | May–May |
| Pennsylvania | 226 | April | Apr–May |
| Michigan | 208 | May | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 157 | April | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 130 | April | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 120 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Tennessee | 107 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Maryland | 76 | April | Apr–Apr |
| West Virginia | 68 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 63 | May | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 59 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Alabama | 46 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Iowa | 32 | April | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 30 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kentucky | 22 | April | Apr–Apr |
| South Carolina | 22 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Indiana | 15 | April | Apr–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (buttercup family)
Lesser Celandine
Red Columbine
Western Columbine
Rue Anemone
Marsh Marigold
Blue Columbine
Tenpetal Anemone
Prairie Pasqueflower
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Wood Anemone?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Wood Anemone most often seen?
The most observations come from Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Vermont.