A kind friend brought me a beautiful bouquet of long-stemmed florists’ anemones not long ago. Shut up tight they looked almost like tulips, except for the telltale ruff of fern-like leaves around the base of each bloom. When the help of a little warmth and light, those “tulips” morphed into large, saucer-like flowers with seven petals apiece in silken shades of purple, red, blue-purple and white. English garden writer Vita Sackville-West described the colors of similar anemones in her garden as “wine-velvet with an electric-blue centre; scarlet with a black centre, pink or lilac with a biscuit-coloured centre; or a particularly subtle variety, which is like a ripe apricot hanging in the sun.” The centers and stamens of my flowers are dramatic black, except for the lone white bloom, which has a pale green center and golden stamens. I have long loved their fall-blooming Japanese anemones or Anemone japonica. My friend’s generosity, reminded me that the spring-blooming members of the large anemone clan are among the best garden plants.
Sometimes called “wind flowers”, anemones got their Latin species name from the ancient Greek word “anemos”, meaning “wind”. I like the idea, suggested by at least one author, that the Latin name means “daughter of the wind.”
My anemones, if they were true daughters of the wind, would be the offspring of Aeolus, the Greek deity in charge of that natural phenomenon. Aeolus may have played a role once upon a time, but in actuality, the anemones currently residing at my house are hybrid offspring of Anemone coronaria or poppy anemone and other, related species. If “coronaria” makes you think of crowns and coronations, you are not far off. In the past, these relatively long-stemmed beauties were formed into garlands, presumably to adorn the heads of young girls in spring.
Now that I have anemones in my kitchen—at least for awhile–I want some for the garden. The coronarias are small to mid-size plants, rising between seven and twelve inches tall, perfect for spots towards the fronts of beds and borders. Daughters of the wind do not like hot summer sun and tend to go dormant after the spring bloom period, which is any time from April through June, depending on your location. Plant as early as possible after the ground thaws in spring and soak the rhizomes overnight before committing them to the ground. Sunshine and well-drained soil are necessary for sure success and many sources suggest planting these particular anemones in raised beds. If that is not an option for you, lighten the soil with lots of
compost or other organic material before you plant. Containers sited in sunny spots are another good choice for planting.
Even experienced gardeners tend to take the USDA zone hardiness information on seed packets and plant tags as suggestions rather than directions. Anemone coronaria is listed in most guides as hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10, which means that they are cold tolerant down to about five degrees Fahrenheit. This works in my garden in New Jersey, but I plan to give myself a little insurance by mulching mine well to insulate them against winter’s freezing temperatures. If you live in USDA zones 6 or colder, you can still have beautiful poppy anemones. Plant the rhizomes in early spring in pots and enjoy the plants as annuals. If you want to overwinter, place the pots in cool, frost-free locations, such as unheated porches or garages, and water sparingly during the cold months. They should be fine.
As Vita—she and I have long been on a first-name basis—noted, the allure of the daughters of the wind is the marvelous colors, which have a rich, saturated quality. I love the double-flowered ‘Admiral’, which is a vibrant blue-purple with a black center that is visible despite the plethora of petals. ‘Mr. Fokker’ is just a bit lighter, with semi-double petals. White-flowered ‘Mount Everest’ has double rows of slightly slimmer petals, while ‘Bride’ is semi-double with black centers. For a bit of contrast, try, ‘Hollandia’, which is red, with a slightly lighter central “eye zone” and a black center. You can also buy mixed assortments of rhizomes and harvest a rainbow. The ‘de Caen’ varieties generally come in such mixed arrays.
I remember the quote from the Biblical book of Hosea: “For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.” You can sow the daughters of the wind and reap a whirl of color. It seems a shame not to do so. Find a good selection at Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, 7900 Daffodil Lane Gloucester, VA 23061, (804) 693-3966 or Toll-free: (877) 661-2852. Free print catalog.