Spring Anemones: Planting, Care and Top Varieties
blanda, nemorosa or de Caen
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Spring anemones (wood anemone, Anemone blanda and Anemone de Caen) bloom early from March onwards depending on the species. Easy to grow and maintain, they naturalise and form lovely floral carpets. Spring anemones are easy-to-grow flowers, perfect for brightening up the garden from March onwards. Discover how to plant them, care for them and combine them with other plants for a spectacular effect in the garden!
⇒ Learn all about Spring Anemones: planting, cultivation, care and uses.
Where to plant spring anemones?
Grow Anemone blanda and Wood Anemone (nemorosa) in woodland settings or sheltered beds beneath deciduous trees, alongside hostas, ferns, Solomon’s Seal or epimedium.
More planting ideas ⇒ Pairing Wood Anemones, Pairing Anemone blanda.
They make excellent ground cover in partially shaded to shaded areas. Avoid planting in full sun, as they would struggle to establish.
Choose a spot with light, well-draining soil to prevent bulb rot and cool conditions (that doesn’t dry out in summer); anemones are fully hardy and can remain in place over winter, even in colder regions.
Michael’s tip: Mix Anemone blanda and nemorosa for a longer flowering season.
Choosing the right planting substrate for your spring anemones
Plant Anemone blanda and nemorosa in ordinary to humus-rich soil but well-draining, which doesn’t retain water as stagnant moisture would cause the bulbs to rot. If the soil is too heavy, mix it with 1/3 compost and 1/3 non-calcareous sand.
When and how to plant spring anemones?
Anemone blanda and nemorosa are planted in autumn, while Anemone de Caen is planted in spring.
Wood Anemone (A. nemorosa)
Wood anemone comes in the form of a root. Keep them in their protective packet until planting to prevent drying out.
- Loosen and refine the soil at the chosen planting spot;
- Space the roots 10 cm apart;
- Bury the roots horizontally at a depth of 5 cm and cover with soil;
- Gently firm the soil to ensure good root-to-soil contact;
- Shortly after flowering, the plant goes dormant and the leaves disappear, reappearing in spring.
For more on planting wood anemone ⇒ Wood Anemone: Successful Planting Guide.
Anemone de Caen
Anemone de Caen comes in bulb form.
- Soak the bulbs for half a day to rehydrate them;
- Plant Anemone de Caen preferably in spring when there’s no risk of frost;
- Loosen the soil.
You can also grow Anemone de Caen in pots.
Anemone blanda
Anemone blanda comes as a small bulb.
- Soak the bulbs in water for half a day to rehydrate them;
- Loosen and refine the soil at the planting site;
- Plant the bulbs 5 centimetres deep and firm the soil;
- Space bulbs about 15 cm apart to allow proper growth.
Follow our guide to growing Anemone blanda in pots.
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