Anemone

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Common Name

Windflower

Scientific Name

Anemone

Plant Category

Perennial

Location

European countries, particularly Italy and Israel, North America, Japan

Height

3-9 inches

Width

3-6 inches

Blooming Season

Spring

Plant Habit

Upright

Color

White, red, blue or yellow

Sun

Lightly shaded or sunny location

Soil

Well-drained, moderately fertile soil

Water

Full moisture

Plant Characteristics

Elongated flower stems bear one or several, white, red, blue or rarely yellow flowers. There are involucres of three leaflets below each flower. The fruits produce cup-shaped anemone flowers. Deer-resistant.

Usage

Good as garden plants, border planting, cut flowers or grown in containers.

Information

The name anemone comes from Greek and roughly means wind flower, which signifies that the wind that blows the petal open will also, eventually, blow the dead petals away. Anemones belong to the buttercup family. The anemone plants are perennial herbs with an underground rootstock, and have deeply cut leaves. Their fruits often bear long hairy styles which aid their distribution by the wind There are three types of anemone flowers. There are the spring flowering types, which have either rhizomes or tubers. There are the tuberous Mediterranean types which flower in spring and summer. And there are the larger fall flowering types, which bloom in late summer to fall and tend to have fibrous roots. They also have medicinal uses for cramping pains, menstrual problems and emotional distress.

Growing Tips

The tubers should be planted in the fall or spring. If you live north of their adapted zones, in this case, plant in the spring. Before planting, soak the tubers for a few hours or overnight. The tubers should be planted 3 to 4 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart. Anemones need a regular watering schedule during the first growing seasons so that they can establish a deep, extensive root system. Old foliage should be removed before the new leaves emerge for a neat appearance. Anemones grow best in very well-drained, moderately fertile soil in a lightly shaded or sunny location.

Common Problems

Anemones do not like being out of water for any length of time and take water in quickly, so water levels should be checked regularly. However they should not be placed in water that is too deep. They are generally free from pests and diseases. However, leaf spot and rhizome rot can sometimes occur, especially in very wet conditions.