Cylindrical Thimbleweed (Anemone cylindrica)

 

Cylindrical Thimbleweed (Anemone cylindrica)

 

Cylindrical thimbleweed is a native, perennial wildflower in Wisconsin. It grows one to three feet tall. The flowers are greenish white and about 3/4 inch across. Each flower has five petal-like sepals and numerous yellow stamens surrounding a green, cone-like center. The leaves are palmately compound. Each leaflet can be up to four inches long and is deeply lobed, hairy, and wedge shaped at the base. The basal leaves are larger and have long stalks, while the stem leaves are smaller.

This wildflower prefers open habitats such as dry prairies, woodland margins, roadsides, and savannas, thriving in sandy or gritty soils where it’s unlikely to compete with taller, more aggressive species. It tolerates drought well and plays a modest but meaningful role in native ecosystems. Small bees and hoverflies are drawn to its pollen, while the unique seed heads contribute visual interest in the colder months and aid in wind dispersal.

Cylindrical thimbleweed contains protoanemonin, a defensive compound common in the Ranunculaceae family that discourages herbivory and can inhibit seed germination in close quarters. In natural settings this effect is modest, but it does help the plant maintain small footholds in dry, sparsely vegetated habitats. For gardeners and restorationists, it’s a reliable choice for lean soils and open native plantings. Its seeds need cold stratification to break dormancy, and while the plant is never aggressive, it can slowly form loose colonies over time through short rhizomes.

Sources:

Wisconsin State Herbarium — Anemone cylindrica 

 Illinois Wildflowers — Cylindrical Thimbleweed 

 Minnesota Wildflowers — Anemone cylindrica (Thimbleweed) 

 USDA Plants Database — Anemone cylindrica Overview 

 Missouri Botanical Garden — Anemone cylindrica Plant Details

(sumx)