Anemone coronaria: plants, winter hardiness & the most beautiful varieties
Anemone coronaria charms with its delicate, colourful flowers – whether in a bed or a flower pot. In addition, this flowering perennial is suitable for novice gardeners because it is quite easy to care for.
Garden anemone (Anemone coronaria) is unfortunately often used only as an annual. However, in mild locations or by protecting the tubers, you can look forward to the beautiful flowers next spring. We will show you what the ideal location looks like and what should be considered in the care and overwintering.
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Anemone coronaria: characteristics and origin
Anemone coronaria is also known in our country as garden or Riviera anemone. In English it is known as “Poppy anemone”. The genus Anemone belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. Anemone coronaria is originally from the Mediterranean region and is popular with us as an ornamental plant, for example in cottage gardens. Wild it also grows in olive groves and vineyards.
Garden anemone forms underground root tubers and is perennial. The tubers are used for storage of reserve materials and vegetative propagation.
Tip: Tubers are thickened storage organs consisting of a uniform tissue, that is, not subdivided. This makes them easy to distinguish from other storage organs such as onions.
Overall, the Anemone coronaria reaches a growth height of up to 30 cm. The upright growing ornamental plant has only a few leaves per petiole. These are deeply slit and deciduous. The flowers of the beautiful anemone species can be red to pink, blue or white – certain varieties have other colours and shapes. The flowering period of Anemone coronaria begins in April and extends into June. Garden anemones cannot offer nectar to bees, bumblebees and other insects but they can offer plenty of pollen. If the showy flower is successfully pollinated by insects or the wind, a woolly-haired seed head emerges.
The most beautiful varieties
In Anemone coronaria there is a magnificent range of flower colours. For example, there are varieties that bloom only in shades of blue or even have a petal pattern. We show you the most beautiful varieties of Anemone coronaria.
- De Caen Group – Mix is a mixture of varieties. It offers a colourful variety of colours through white, red to purple or blue flowers. Variety mix “De Caen group Bordeaux” contains only varieties with flowers in red colour strokes. In addition to the “De Caen Group” series, there is also the “Harmony” series, which offers different coloured Anemone coronaria, including one with different blue varieties.
- ‘Bride’ shows beautiful white flowers. The blue anthers come into their own here.
- ‘Mr. ‘Fokker’ shines a strong blue with black stamens. This variety likes to stand in smaller groups with a maximum of 10 plants.
- ‘The Governor’ shows a bright ring near the stamens. Overall, this variety blooms red and forms blue umbels.
Planting Anemone coronaria
In Germany, Anemone coronaria is not 100% hardy, so it is often used as an annual. However, in very mild regions or in a sheltered garden location, it can actually persist, become established, and even spread somewhat. The prerequisite for this is a location that is protected from the weather and in no case winter-wet. Anemone coronaria also prefers a sunny to partial shade position. The soil should be loose and therefore well-drained, and moderately moist. In heavy, clayey soils, it is recommended to lean it with sand. Anemone coronaria is preferably planted as a bulb.
Tip: High quality tubers feel firm and plump – they do not have soft spots. Also, they should not show mouldy stains or smell like mould.
In our latitudes we recommend spring planting from March, although in mild areas autumn planting is also possible. In this case, should provide winter protection from brushwood. Once a suitable location is found and the optimal time has come, the tubers can be placed in the open ground.
- Garden anemones like to stand in small to larger groups together with 3 to 20 plants. Together, they also make a better visual impression than planted individually.
- Ensure a planting distance of approx. 20 cm to 25 plants per m².
- If necessary, incorporate a drainage layer of gravel or chippings to prevent waterlogging later.
- The planting depth is about three times the diameter of the bulb.
- Lightly water the planting area.
- It is wise to mark the spot to avoid accidental digging over.
Alternatively, Anemone coronaria can be planted in a container in the spring. From the outset, or at least with expected late frosts, the pot should be placed in a sheltered place. You should also create a drainage layer – for example, expanded clay. Use a high-quality flower compost as a substrate. Our Plantura Organic Flower Compost contains, among other things, crushed expanded clay. This leads not only to an optimal structure of the substrate but also to a lower total weight of the bucket. In addition, this substrate is peat-free and produced using less CO2.
- Perfect for all flowering plants in garden beds & pots
- For beautiful blossoms & healthy plant growth
- Peat-free & organic soil: CO2-saving composition
Plant the tuber just as deep as in the open ground. The pot should give the tuber 15 – 20 cm of space on all sides.
Tip: Potted plants for summer bed planting are often offered with a compact growth habit. However, the compact growth is achieved only with special light treatment and grows very soon.
The right care
Anemone coronaria, like many anemone species, is easy to care for, provided the location suits it. The soil, or rather the substrate, should be kept fresh but in no case wet – covering the planting area with mulch to protect it from evaporation helps.
Since the Anemone coronaria may well form more flowers after the main flowering, it is recommended to cut out the flowerheads after fading. Pruning the whole plant is also possible. Cutting back will provide more sun to the still small young plants close to the ground, creating the basis for their growth and abundant flowering.
In the open ground Anemone coronaria does not require fertilising. For plants cultivated in tubs, we recommend fertiliser in the spring. Our Plantura Flower Food, for example, shows a long enough effect for the season and therefore needs to be applied only once in spring. The optimal nutrient composition allows the garden anemone to grow healthily and vigorously – the phosphorus it contains supports flower formation and thus ensures numerous flower spikes. Water the plant well after applying fertiliser.
- Perfect for flowering plants in the garden & on the balcony
- For healthier plants with beautiful & long-lasting blossoms
- Long-lasting fertiliser that is free from animal products - child & pet friendly
Are garden anemones hardy?
In our country, the garden anemone is not reliably hardy. It is given a frost hardiness of maximum
– 6.5 °C. That is, only very mild locations allow the Anemone coronaria to survive the winter without damage. Therefore, we recommend that the anemone tubers in our colder regions to overwinter frost-free. To do this, remove the withered leaves in autumn, dig up the tuber and store it in a dark, cool and dry place. In the spring, as a rule, it is not necessary to wait for the icemen to plant the tubers again in a suitable location.
Tip: You can leave trial tubers in the ground over the winter. In mild locations protected from heavy moisture, overwintering may work and the Anemone coronaria will run wild on its own.
When digging up the tubers, you will notice that more tubers have formed, as they serve for vegetative propagation, in addition to storing reserve materials. They can be planted sporadically and separately in the spring.
Are garden anemones poisonous?
Yes, like many anemone species, Anemone coronaria is toxic to humans and animals. It contains a juice, which can because skin irritation. Therefore, we recommend that you wear gloves during the care procedures, and in any case, wash your hands thoroughly after work.
For low-maintenance planting of off-sun sites, the long-blooming red bistort (Persicaria amplexicaulis) is suitable. We have collected for you the most beautiful varieties and explain how to plant it successfully.
