Anemones: daughters of the wind

Anemones: daughters of the wind

With tragic but romantic origins in Greek myth and legend, one story tells of anemones’ creation by the goddess Aphrodite as her tears mixed with the blood of Adonis, her dead lover. Members of the buttercup family and providing interest in the garden in spring, early summer and autumn, the flowers of these beguiling plants are open and welcoming to pollinators, meaning that they’re good for wildlife too.

The time to plant them is early autumn, whether Japanese anemones (in bloom now) or the corms and rhizomes of the smaller forms for flowering next year. We’re going to look at the four anemones most commonly grown in the UK. All prefer moist but well-drained soil or compost.

Japanese anemones

Shallow bowl-shaped flowers in shades of pink and pale lilac through to white appear in September and October and often as early as August. These stately plants, some of which grow to 1.2m high, are happy in full sun or part shade. This makes them useful in late summer for slightly tricky areas, filling a gap when other shade-tolerant, tall plants have shut up shop for the winter. Looking their best in large groups, they’re a must-have for a sizeable area of part-shade. Their long, leggy stems waft elegantly in the breeze rather in the way that grasses do.

Despite their height, with careful planning they can work well scattered around the middle of the border, offering a view through the stems to the foliage of other plants behind them.

There are many varieties of Japanese anemone but the plants listed below will help to give you a taste of the range available.

Popular Anemone x hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ has white flowers with yellow centres. Its eventual height and spread are approximately 1.2 x 1.2m. ‘Robustissima’ is a similar size but has pale lilac pink flowers.

Anemone huphensis ‘Splendens’ is a smaller 90 x 60cm. Its petals are slightly frilly in an attractively ragged sort of way, deep raspberry at the outer ages, becoming paler towards the centre.

Anemone huphensis var. japonica ‘Pamina’ has semi-double candy pink blooms and reaches 75cm in height.

Deadheading the spent blooms will keep them flowering for longer.

Anemone blanda (windflower)

‘Anemone’ translates from Greek as ‘daughter of the wind’, which may be how these plants came by their common name. With daisy-like flowers in a glorious palette of blue, violet and white and delicate, ferny leaves, they’re low-growing (to approximately 15cm tall) and thrive in sun or part-shade in humus-rich, well-drained soil. Perfectly at home under deciduous trees and shrubs where they’ll naturalise to form a bright carpet, they also put on an eye-catching performance in pots.

Flowering in March and April, early autumn is the time to plant their corms, which look like small, shrivelled bulbs. Planting requires a spot of planning as they need to soak in cool water to rehydrate; this encourages sprouting once planted. Opinion differs as to how long they should be in water, but between 6-8 hours should be about right.

Then plant them about 7-8cm deep and 10-15cm apart. The shape of the corms means that it’s difficult to tell which way is up but in fact it doesn’t really matter; they’ll find their way regardless.

Anemone nemorosa (wood anemone)

A quietly beautiful native plant found in drifts in ancient woodland and running along shady hedgerows, the flowers of wood anemones are white with naturally varying hints of pale pink or lilac. Slow-growing, they spread by underground rhizomes (thick roots) and take a while to naturalise. So if you find a large spread of them under trees, it’s an indication that they’ve been there for a long time and that you’re standing in a rare and valuable area of ancient woodland. Thought by the Romans to be lucky, it was customary to pick the first flowers as a charm to ward off fever.

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/plants/wild-flowers/wood-anemone/

Wood anemones grow to about 30cm tall and generally flower in March and April although they may begin to bloom earlier, in February. They do best in conditions that mimic their natural habitat: part or dappled shade with damp but well-drained soil that’s rich in leafmould. Before planting, soak the twiggy rhizomes overnight or for between 6 and 8 hours.  Place at about 6-8cm deep and 10-15cm apart on their longest side and wait with anticipation for spring.

Anemone coronaria

Open, poppy-like blooms in rich red, cerise, blue, purple and white, often with beautifully contrasting dark centres, are the hallmark of these vibrant plants. Growing to between 30 and 45cm tall depending on variety and conditions, they’re often known as ‘the florist’s anemone’ because they make such glorious cut flowers. Flourishing in free-draining, sandy soil and a warm and sunny spot, they dislike wet conditions, especially when dormant. Most need protection from frost and are best grown in pots that you can move to a sheltered place over winter. The De Caen Group, however, are said to be hardy.

Anemone coronaria flower naturally in spring but they can be cultivated annually to bloom at different times of the year. Whenever you plant them though, bear in mind that they’ll revert to their natural spring-flowering annual cycle.

• To flower in spring, plant in autumn in a greenhouse, cold frame or outside in pots in a mild area.
• For summer flowers plant outside in April.
• For early autumn flowers plant outside in June.

Soak the corms before planting for 6-8 hours and then plant at about 8cm deep, 10-15cm apart. Like the corms of Anemone blanda it’s hard to tell which way up they should be. Again it doesn’t actually matter, they’ll find their way anyway.

https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-anemones/

There are many species of anemone worldwide. Not only cultivated for their beauty, several are known to be used in folk or traditional medicine in areas of the globe as far apart as China, the American continent and Northern Europe. Clinical research indicates that some of the compounds anemones contain do in fact have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and other medicinal properties.  Obviously it’s not advisable to try this at home! But the beauty of anemones and their multiple seasons of interest make them eye-catching and rewarding additions to your garden or balcony.