Anemone was a nymph in Greek mythology, turned into a flower by a jealous goddess, her name meaning ‘daughter of the wind’. It’s easy to see how the association started when you see these bright, cheerful flowers dancing in the breeze on stems that sway gracefully in the wind. Their open form and prominent stamens mean that they’re especially attractive to bees and butterflies looking for a hit of late summer nectar. Anemones really do go with everything – we only wish their name was easier to pronounce!
Perennials born in Herefordshire, blooming in your garden
Our perennials start life in the rolling Herefordshire hills, where Jack and his team trial over 250 new varieties each year to bring you the best performing and most sustainable plants in the UK. With over forty years of excellence, it’s no surprise that they’ve won the HTA Plant Grower of the Year award two years running.
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Which anemone?
Anemones come in a variety of types, colours and shapes, including Japanese anemones, like Prinz Heinrich and Honorine Jobert. These plants typically grow to an eventual height of between half a metre and a metre and a half. Their inviting flowers can be single, semi-double and double in appearance.
Planting schemes and partners
Anemones suit an array of planting schemes, including cottage, prairie, wildlife and coastal gardens. Plant them with other perennials that flower later into the year – e.g. echinacea, rudbeckia and sedum – to create a combination of powerful colours, or plant your anemones together with no other plant species, and let a spreading carpet of delicate, dancing flowers develop over time.
Growing tips
If only all plants were as easy to grow as anemones… The amount of sunshine anemones like depends on the variety; Japanese anemones, for instance, prefer a partially shaded spot, while Mediterranean-style anemones, on the other hand, like full sun. Plant your anemones in humus rich, moist (but not overly damp) and well draining soil. Give them a good mulch in the springtime, and deadhead them as their flowers wither and fade – this helps elongate their blooming period.
