A walk in the forest in spring, your gaze wanders around and suddenly it gets stuck on the beautiful flowers of a plant that covers the whole area. This is possibly the wood anemone. Here it says: Picking prohibited!
The wood anemone is under nature protection
How you can recognize the wood anemone
Large stocks of the wood anemone can be found in various locations throughout Europe. The natural occurrence of this spring bloomer are damp meadows, forests and floodplains. For many years it remains where it was once sown or planted. Its rhizome survives underground.
The wood anemone likes to settle in large groups and cover entire areas of forest floor. It is unmistakable because there is not much green sprouting when it is growing and especially when it is in bloom and most of the other plants bloom at a different time. It blooms between early March and late April.
External features of this plant
Most often, the wood anemone stands between 15 and 20 cm high, depending on the species and the light conditions at its location. It forms 2 to 3 fissured pinnate leaves. They are deep green in color and die in June.
A flower forms on a long stalk above the foliage. It can be either white, pink, purple or bluish in color. Its appearance is vaguely reminiscent of dog rose blossoms. The flowers are 2 cm wide on average, are star-shaped and consist of 6 petals, among others. When it rains, the flower heads tilt towards the ground.
Do not collect, dig up or even eat!
Since the wood anemone is under nature protection in Germany, it may not be collected. You should also refrain from digging up and cutting off the flowers. If you are caught, you could face heavy fines.
Beware of getting up close and personal with Anemone nemorosa:
- all parts of the plant are toxic to humans and animals
- only after drying are toxins harmless (since converted)
- Symptoms after skin contact: Skin irritations, redness
- Symptoms after consumption: digestive problems, kidney pain, damage to the nervous system
tips and tricks
Plant the wood anemone in your own garden. It reproduces via its rhizomes and likes to self-seed. Over the years, a broad carpet of flower stars emerges every spring…