How To Grow: Anemones

Anemones are a genus of about 120 species of flowers in the buttercup family, and are known by a number of other names including Easter Flower, Windflower, Pasque Flower and Thimbleweed.

Picture courtesy of whitebuffalobk.

Anemones are perennial flowering herbs that come in a wide range of colors, including white, purple, yellow, red, green, pink and blue. They grow well in rock gardens and flower beds and are available in both spring- and fall-blooming varieties. Here are our gardening tips on how to grow anemones in your garden this year:

1. You need to select the right site in which to grow your anemones. These plants like to be in a semi-shaded position that is sheltered from the elements in well drained soil containing plenty of organic matter.

2. Once you have found the perfect spot in your garden to grow your anemones you need to prepare the bulbs. Soak the bulbs for a few hours in lukewarm water to give them a little wake up call, and whilst they are soaking you can dig the holes in which to plant them. The holes need to be around 2 inches deep and around 2 – 4 inches apart. Anemones should be planted in late autumn and need to be well watered in.

3. Anemones should be kept moist, but not wet, so during dry spells gently water the soil to retain moisture. The flowers will bloom throughout late spring into early summer, appearing around March, April and May. Deadhead the spent blooms to promote more flowers to grow, and once the blooming has finished leave the foliage in place to enable re-growth for the next year.

4. Cut back the plant to the ground in late autumn. Throughout this time your anemones will rest until they begin their growing cycle to bloom once again in the spring.