Rue-anemone brings some of the earliest flowers of spring to the garden. Its white to pale pink flowers appear before the forest canopy fills in. It blooms before the leaves of many trees appear. This is a clever woodland adaptation: it takes advantage of sunlight reaching the forest floor in early spring. What appear to be petals are actually sepals. Rue-anemone does not have true petals. The flowers can range from white to pinkish, sometimes changing colour as they age.

Rue-anemone belongs to the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), along with familiar plants such as hepatica, columbine and buttercups. After flowering, the plant becomes much less conspicuous as it dies back in summer and goes dormant underground. Dappled spring sunlight beneath deciduous trees is ideal. Do not cut it back while it is still green; allow the foliage to naturally yellow and disappear after flowering. Once Rue-anemone goes dormant in summer, there may be little or nothing visible above ground. Avoid disturbing the soil in that area while the plant is dormant.