I soon learned that pepper root and rue anemone are two native wild flowers that are common throughout the Ozarks and bloom in the early spring. Occasionally, on seeing a white flash out of the corner of my eye that didn t look like either pepper root or rue anemone, I would slam on the brakes and head for the nearest precarious parking spot. Growing rue anemone in the shade garden is easy. Because the plants are small, cluster several together in clumps to form an effective display. They need reasonably well drained soil but will tolerate some fairly heavy clays so long as it is on a slope.
Propagation is by division of the roots which can be done as soon as the plants finish flowering.
Once the clump is established, division is not usually required to keep these springtime beauties blooming. Rue anemone are attuned to dry summers under the canopy of towering oaks, so despite their delicate appearance, babying is not necessary. The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The mention of any commercial product in this web site does not imply its endorsement by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service over other products not named, nor does the omission imply that they are not satisfactory.