Anemone parviflora aka Northern Anemone

Anemone parviflora is a small perennial in the buttercup family. Common names include small-flowered anemone, northern anemone, and Arctic wind-flower. Its native range spans the northern Russian Far East and subarctic North America. It extends south into the western and central United States. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. The name Anemone borealis is a synonym.

In North America, this plant grows chiefly in Alaska and Canada. It lives beside mountain streams, in mountain meadows, and on rocky slopes. These sites lie in the subalpine and alpine zones. Farther south, it occurs less often in Idaho and Utah. Its range also reaches Colorado through the Rocky Mountains. Kew lists it as a plant of temperate regions. It grows from rhizomes below the soil.

This low plant forms a small clump of basal leaves. Each leaf has three main parts. Stiff flower stems rise above the leaves. Plants usually reach about 0.5–0.7 feet [0.15–0.20 metres] tall. The listed garden size reaches about 0.75 feet [0.23 metres]. Its listed spread is also about 0.75 feet [0.23 metres]. This modest size suits the plant to low planting schemes. Its flowers provide the main garden display above the leafy clump.

Each flowering stem bears one bloom that faces upward. Flowers are white, though some have a blue tinge. They can reach about 0.17 feet [0.05 metres] across. Bloom falls between June and August. The exact timing varies with the site's location and height above sea level. This gives the plant a late-spring to summer role in gardens. Its pale blooms stand above the small base of leaves.

Grow it in moist, rocky soil that drains well. Full sun or partial shade suits it. Its listed water need is moderate, and maintenance needs are low. Missouri Botanical Garden places it in USDA zones 3–7. It suits moist parts of native plant and wildflower gardens. Gardeners can also use it for naturalized plantings. Sites near streams, ponds, or water gardens offer other planting options. Keep the soil's good drainage in mind when choosing such sites. Missouri Botanical Garden reports no serious insect or disease problems.