Anemone sylvestris

Snowdrop Windflower

A charming spring-blooming perennial with pure white, lightly fragrant flowers and soft gray-green foliage. Valued for its early season bloom, attractive silvery seed heads, and ability to form gentle colonies in borders and naturalized settings.

Key features



Width: 12–18 in (1–1.5 ft)



Height: 12–18 in (1–1.5 ft)



Flower color: White with yellow center



Bloom time: Mid to late spring



Foliage: Soft green to gray-green, finely divided



Form: Clump-forming with spreading tendency



Life cycle: Herbaceous perennial



Growing conditions



Sun: Full sun to part shade



Soil: Well-drained, average to dry; prefers sandy or loamy soils



Water: Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established



Hardiness: USDA Zones 3–8



Landscape use



Front of perennial borders



Rock and alpine gardens



Woodland edges and naturalized areas



Spring groundcover



Cottage gardens



Notes



Lightly fragrant flowers



Attractive fluffy seed heads extend interest after bloom



Can spread by rhizomes over time but is generally manageable



Deer and rabbit resistant



Performs well in drier sites compared to many other anemones

Plant type

Perennial

Height

1'

Width

1.5'

Hardiness zones

4–8

Sunlight

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Growth rate

Fast

Bloom time

Spring

Flower color

White

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Green

Attracts

Butterflies

Soil

Clay, Loamy, Well Drained

Shape

Spreading

Fragrant

Yes

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No