Enemion biternatum
false rue anemone
Overview
Enemion biternatum, false rue anemone, is a low spring-flowering perennial of the buttercup family, forming clumps 6-16 inches (15-40 cm) tall in moist deciduous woodland. The thin, smooth leaves are twice divided into rounded, three-lobed leaflets that recall those of meadow rue, on slender stalks rising from a fibrous-rooted crown. White flowers about 0.5-0.75 inch (1.2-2 cm) across open in early spring, each with five petal-like sepals and a cluster of yellow stamens; several flowers are usually held above the foliage at once. Plants leaf out and bloom before the canopy closes, then often go dormant by midsummer, leaving a gap where they grew. It is native to rich, moist woods, floodplains, and shaded slopes across the eastern and central United States. Enemion biternatum spreads slowly into colonies by seed and short rhizomes and needs consistently moist, humus-rich soil; it browns and disappears early if the ground dries in summer. Like other members of the buttercup family it contains compounds that are mildly toxic if eaten. The divided foliage and white spring flowers fill the role of a woodland ground layer, though the early dormancy leaves bare ground that later plants must cover.
Native Range
Enemion biternatum is native to the eastern and central United States, from the Great Lakes and Appalachians west to the eastern Great Plains. It grows in rich, moist deciduous woods, on floodplains, and along shaded stream slopes.Suggested Uses
Enemion biternatum is used in shade and woodland gardens, native plant borders, and as an early-season ground layer beneath deciduous trees. Its spring flowers give early bees pollen and nectar.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 1'4"
Width/Spread6" - 1'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in early spring, often March to May, as the trees leaf out. Each clump opens several white flowers over two to four weeks. Small beaked seed pods follow before the plant fades.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight