Thimbleweed is a graceful, interesting native Ozark plant that grows along forest edges (also native to many other areas of the eastern United States). It is most often found in the dappled shade of liminal spaces between forest and clearing.
Before sending up flower stalks, the plant is only about a foot tall.
The long slender flower stalks add an extra foot or two in total height. The stalks sway in the breezes, giving it one of its other common names, “windflower”.
Thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana)
During the heat of July while out scouting for rocks – yes, rocks. I scout for plants, habitats AND rocks regularly. Anyway, I spied the bristly elongated cones of Thimbleweed. Of course I had to zip back up to the house because I generally don’t carry along the camera while dealing with rocks.
Last year in late January I noticed the seed fluff getting ready to take flight. Of course I gathered some of the seedheads. In the course of my gathering, many were naturally released onto the breeze to reseed elsewhere, so no danger of over harvesting seeds from this one.
Thimbleweed is another one of my favorite plants (I have quite a few “favorites”, haha) of the Ozarks. I didn’t get the seeds I’d gathered sown this spring but I’ll try again next year. If successful, I’ll have some of these graceful beauties to offer at the market booth and nursery.
Here’s a few links to pages with more information about Thimbleweed.
It has a history of medicinal use, but I’d enjoy this plant just because of its unique appearance.
It stands out in a crowds of weedy growth and I like that about it. That’s what I’m trying to do as a writer and blogger in a sea of other writers and bloggers, so we have something in common.
It’s a plant that should be easy enough to propagate, so hopefully it will also one day grace the “Plants” category in our online store. I should be able to begin offering plants by mail in a few months.
More info
- https://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Anemone+virginiana
- https://nativewildflowersandseeds.com/anemone-virginiana-tall-thimbleweed/
- https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ANVI3
Photos
