Anemone

Family. Ranunculaceae.

Origin. Central China.

Description. The herbaceous perennial has basal leaves, vertical or creeping. The leaves are dark green, simple or compound, lobed or undivided, softly pubescent on long petioles. The edges of the leaves are jagged or smooth. Long, vertical, graceful, branched peduncles rise significantly above the foliage at the end of summer. Cup-shaped flowers, 4 - 6 cm in diameter, are collected in inflorescences - umbrellas of 2 - 9 flowers. Each flower consists of 5 - 7 showy, round, pinkish-white to light mauve petals. Blooms from late summer to autumn, often before the first frost (late July/August to October). Many species of this genus are favorite garden plants, as they can bloom throughout the year in frost-free climates. Anemones are successfully grown as perennial garden flowers.

Height. From 15 cm to 120 cm.

Planting and care

Growing temperature

Prefers cool temperatures from 7 to 18° C.  

When blooms

Plants bloom in spring or late summer, from August to September, depending on the type and growing conditions. With proper care, repeated flowering is possible throughout the year. 

Lighting

Some direct sunlight, but not on a hot summer day. Some species prefer partial shade. 

Reproduction 

Anemone are propagated by division or cuttings. Large rhizomes can be divided every two to three years, in the spring. Tuberous species are best divided during the dormant period, usually in the summer. They also reproduce by seeds sown in moist soil in the spring. Growing from seeds requires some effort. They are first stratified in the refrigerator for two to three weeks. Cover the container with glass or a plastic cap to maintain even humidity. Germination takes from two to twenty-five weeks, depending on the type and time of planting.

How to care

Can be grown in warm seasons in open ground, but the bushes prefer places protected from the wind. Remove old foliage in a timely manner, shorten tall shoots to half their height. Tolerates pruning well. After the above-ground part has withered, when the plants go into a dormant state, the bulbs are dug up and stored in a dry and cool place, sprinkled with sawdust.

Anemone can be used indoors as a forcing species and get a flowering bush for any holiday. For forcing, the bushes are dug up in the fall together with a lump of earth and transplanted into a pot of a suitable size. The container is kept in a cool and relatively dry room at a temperature of 0 - 2 °C. In January, the temperature is increased to 8 - 12 °C, and with the appearance of the first signs of new growth, watering and fertilizing are resumed.

How to transplant 

Before planting, soak the tubers overnight and then place them in dry, fertile soil in light shade for about 7-10 cm.

Soil 

The flower is easy to grow in moist, well-drained soil. It prefers fertile, humus-rich, neutral or slightly alkaline soil.

Features of feeding

During the growing season, use complex fertilizers every 2 weeks.

Purpose

A beautifully flowering, very showy genus, the representatives of which are suitable for cutting and have a pleasant aroma. Tuberous species can be used as forcing plants.

Air humidity

Not whimsical, tolerates dry room air.

Watering

Water the anemone regularly, especially during the first growing season, to ensure that a deep, extensive root system is formed. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Avoid wet, poorly drained soils, especially in winter.

Pests and diseases

There are no serious problems with insects; with proper care, the flower is also rarely sick. Sometimes leaf spots, powdery mildew and rust may appear.  Sunburn on leaves in hot, dry, sunny summer conditions.

Insects that can attack anemone include miners, aphids, nematodes, thrips, and whiteflies. When grown in open ground, bushes can be attacked by slugs and snails.

Note

All parts of the plant are poisonous. The skin may become inflamed and blistered upon contact with fresh plant juice.  In medicine, anemone is used as a remedy to treat cramps, menstrual irregularities and emotional distress.

Varieties: 

Anemone nemorosa

A very attractive small flower with erect vertical stems of burgundy or bright brown color. Each stem bears at the top a single white, pink or purple flower with 6 rounded petals and numerous, long, yellow stamens. The leaves are green, complex, intricately carved. There are terry varieties. 

Anemone coronaria

Perennial, very brightly colored, bulbous plants. The leaves are green, compound, pinnately separate, arranged alternately. The flowers are large, single, showy - white, red, blue or pink.

The petals of each flower can be colored in several tones. The flowering period is long - up to 4 weeks. One of the varieties of crown anemone is Anemone Bridget is the owner of very large, bright, double flowers.

Anemone × hybrida

A beautifully flowering, tall perennial, characterized by late autumn flowering. The flowers are white or pink and have many yellow stamens.