Windflower

For information about cultivation of Anemone coronaria and Anemone blanda, see Anemone Bulbs. For information about the perennial, see Japanese Anemone.

Windflower (Anemone) - A noble family of tuberous alpine meadow and herbaceous plants, of the Buttercup family, to which is due much of the beauty of spring and early summer of northern and temperate countries. In early spring, or what is winter to us in Northern Europe, when the valleys of Southern Europe and sunny sheltered spots all round the great rocky basin of the Mediterranean are beginning to glow with color, we see the earliest Windflowers in all their loveliness. Those arid mountains that look so barren have on their sunny sides carpets of Anemones in countless variety. Later on the Star Anemone begins, and troops in thousands over the terraces, meadows, and fields of the same regions. Climbing the mountains in April, the Hepatica nestles in nooks all over the bushy parts of the hills. Farther east, while the common Anemones are aflame along the Riviera valleys and terraces, the blue Greek Anemone is open on the hills of Greece; a little later the blue Apennine Anemone blossoms. Meanwhile our Wood Anemone adorns the woods throughout the northern world, and here and there through the brown grass on the chalk hills comes the purple of the Pasque-flower. The grass has grown tall before the graceful alpine Windflower flowers in all the natural meadows of the Alps; later on bloom the high alpine Windflowers, which soon flower and fruit, and are ready to sleep for nine months in the snow. These are but few examples of what is done for the northern and temperate world by these Windflowers, so precious for our gardens also.

Anemone canadensis L. - Canadian anemone

Anemone canadensis L. - Canadian anemone

Anemone caroliniana Walt. - Carolina anemone

Anemone canadensis L. - Canadian anemone

Anemone caroliniana Walt. - Carolina anemone

Anemone cylindrica Gray - candle anemone

Alpine Windflower (Anemone Alpina) - On nearly every great mountain range in northern climes, this is one of the handsomest plants, growing 15 inches to 2 feet high. Seed is the best way to increase it. Sow this in November in a rather moist, peaty bed out of doors, and allow the seedlings to remain for two years. When growth begins in spring transplant to where they are to flower. Full exposure, good drainage, and moisture in summer are essential.

Great Hepatica (Anemone Angulosa) - Larger than the Hepatica, with sky-blue flowers as large as a crown-piece, and five-lobed leaves. In rock gardens, or near them, it will succeed in spaces between choice dwarf shrubs in beds. Seed and division. Transylvania.

Apennine Windflower (Anemone Apennina) - A blue, hardy, tuberous kind. This makes pictures with Daffodils, and adds a new charm to our spring. It is readily increased by division, and grows about 4 inches to 9 inches in height. Besides a white form there are others, not so important, however, as the wild one. Italy.

Blue Winter Windflower (Anemone Blanda) - A lovely plant from the hills of Greece, of a fine blue, and blooming in winter and early spring. It should be grown in every rock garden, planted on banks that catch the early sun. It has irregular tuberous roots; increased by division and seed, and varies in size and color. There are white, rose, and pink varieties. Excellent for naturalising in sandy ground. Sow the seed in drills in the open as soon as ripe. Greece, Asia Minor.

The Scarlet Windflower (Anemone Fulgens) - A brilliant flower of the south of France. In good well-drained soils it will thrive, but is best in a rich manured loam in a northern aspect and in a shaded situation. Division is the surest way of increasing it, as it is liable to sport if raised from seeds. Roots may be transplanted almost all the year round, though the resting time extends only from June to August, and to ensure early and good flowers plant the roots as early as possible in the autumn. With me it thrives in meadow tuft, and dies out in garden borders.

Alpine Hepatica (Anemone Hepatica) - A beautiful early hardy flower. In sheltered spots on porous soil the foliage will remain through the winter. The Hepatica is a deep rooter, hence it thrives so well upon made banks, and it will do as well as Primroses or Violets in any good garden soil. Where let alone, and not often pulled to pieces; it makes strong tufts. The best-known kinds are the double red and single blue, both amongst the hardiest of the section. Then there are the single white; single red; double blue, rich in color; Barlowi, a rich-colored sport from the single blue; splendens, a single red; lilacina, a pretty mauve kind; and some others—every variety being worthy of culture. I prefer the single wild blue kind to any.

Japan Anemone (Anemone Japonica) - A tall autumn-blooming kind, 2 feet to 4 feet high, with fine foliage and large rose-colored flowers. The variety named Honorine Jobert, with pure white flowers, is a beautiful plant; and all good forms of the plant should be cultivated where cut flowers are required in autumn. By having some on a north border, and some on a warm one, the bloom may be prolonged. The secret of success seems to be to prepare at first a deep bed of rich soil, and to leave the plants alone. They abhor frequent disturbance.

Cyclamen-leaved Anemone (Anemone Palmata) - A distinct kind, with leathery leaves and large handsome flowers in May and June, glossy yellow, only opening to the sun. Native of N. Africa and other places on the shores of the Mediterranean. Planted in deep turfy peat, or light fibrous loam with leaf-mould, not on the face of rocks, but rather on level spots, where it can root deeply and grow into strong tufts. There is a double variety. Division or seeds.

Pasque-flower (Anemone Pulsatilla) - There are few sights more pleasant to the lover of spring flowers than the Pasque-flower just showing through the dry grass of a bleak down on an early spring day. It is smaller in a wild than in a cultivated state, forming in the garden strong healthy tufts, but it is one of the plants more beautiful in a wild state than in a garden. I grow it freely as an edging plant. There are several varieties, including red, lilac, and white kinds, but they are not common, and there is also a double variety. A. p. rubra is of vigorous habit, whilst A. pulsatilla Van der Elsh, a recent introduction, with clear rose flowers, is also a valuable addition.

Rock Windflower (Anemone Rupicola) - For sheer beauty this species ranks with the choicest of its race, the flowers comparable only perhaps to the alpine Windflower (A. alpina) in their shell-like form, substance, and velvety texture. They are of a snowy whiteness, in pleasing contrast with the clusters of yellow stamens. The outer petals are tinged with pale blue, the color early attracting the cultivator. Less than a foot high, the glistening cups rising well above the foliage are protected from harm by a spreading tuft of pale green much-divided leaves, which also constitute a perfect setting for the flowers. Happily the plant is easily cultivated in light loam, leaf soil, and grit. A first-rate plant in every way, it is at home in the rock garden in a sunny position and a good depth of soil. Perfectly hardy, it is readily increased by seeds or division of the roots. Native of China, where it was discovered by Mr George Forrest.

Star Windflower (Anemone Stellata) - The star-like flowers of this, ruby, rosy, purple-rosy, or whitish, vary in a charming way, and usually have a large white eye at the base, contrasting with the delicate coloring of the rest of the petals. It is not so vigorous as the Poppy A., and requires a sheltered warm position, a light, sandy, well-drained soil. Division and seeds. Syn. A. hortensis. S. Europe.

Snowdrop Windflower (Anemone Sylvestris) - A handsome plant, about 15 inches high, with large white flowers in spring and beautiful buds. Hardy and free on all soils, but fails to bloom on some cool soils. The aspect of the drooping, unopened buds suggested its English name—the Snowdrop Anemone. Division and seeds. A. sylvestris major is the best form.

Anemone Thalictroides - halictrum anemonoides).

Anemone Vitifolia - A bold perennial some-what like the Japan Anemone, but distinct in foliage and hardy in the Southern Counties. The beauty of the newer forms of A. japonica makes this of less value.

The Greek form of A. fulgens is larger, and very intense in color. A fine strain was raised by the late Rev. J.G.Nelson, and called by him A. fulgens major. The Peacock Anemone (A. Pavonina) is a double form of this.

The various forms of the Japan Anemone are useful for borders, groups, fringes of shrubbery in rich soil, and here and there in half-shady places by wood walks. I like best the single forms.

The previously named Anemones are the most beautiful of the family, which, however, contains many other interesting plants, but many of the higher alpine kinds are grown and increased with difficulty, and only in carefully chosen situations. Some, again, however distinct as species, are not strikingly so in gardens, and for the flower gardener the best way is to make good use of the proved species. Lovers of alpine flowers will no doubt look out for the wild species, while many unknown species must adorn the vast solitudes of Asia, Arctic America, and other countries.

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