Anemone blanda is a fairly common spring bulb that produces a big display of flowers. It is low growing and can be tucked under trees for a nice display, or grown with other small spring bulbs like Muscari. It is best purchased and planted in fall but you can find pots of it in spring at some nurseries.
This plant is called a bulb, a corm and a tuber. It is black, irregularly shaped and does not look much like anything. I suspect that it is properly called a tuber. They are usually sold very dry and it is a good idea to soak them overnight before planting. You really can’t tell which way is up, so just drop them in a planting hole. Bulbs, corms and tubers don’t really care if they are planted upside down.
They grow well in full sun but prefer part shade in hot climates. The common colors are blue, pink and white. I especially like the clear white color.
Their common names include windflower and Grecian windflower, although they don’t do as well in a windy location. They will naturalize over time. At the end of their growing season, which is around mid-summer, the leaves die back and they go underground.
Anemone blanda
(Uh-NEM-oh-nee BLAN-duh)
Life Cycle: tuberous perennial
Height: 12cm (5in)
Bloom Time: spring
Natural Range: Southeast Europe, Cyprus, Turkey, Caucasus
Habitat: sunny dry slopes
Synonyms: n/a
Cultivation of Anemone blanda:
Light: sun to part shade
Soil: well drained
Water: average, moist during the growing season.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 – 10
Propagation: seed, division
Just came across your website. It’s great. I love your advice about garden cleanup. I’m 81 and I can no longer do a lot of raking. What about oak leaves though? I have heard that one should definitely rake those off flower beds Your advice?
Why do people think oak leaves are any different than other leaves? They are just leaves.
They are not acidic as so many think.
these are very invasive?
They do self seed.
Beautiful flowers, I’m going to look into getting some. I just finished your book,soil science for gardeners. What a terrific read. I couldn’t put it down. You do a masterful job of explaining how plants work in a way that is easy to understand and advice that’s practical and affordable. Thank you for demystifying that which we can’t see with straight science for those of us who believe in science. Bravo , Mr. Pavlis!
Thank you very much – please leave a review on Amazon.
Beautiful! Too bad they will not do well in zone 4; because then I would plant them. 🙂
Fingers crossed for this spring. I’ve planted these numerous times and have had no success. Soaking, no soaking, didn’t matter.