Anemone apennina Alba

'Alba' is a delightful white-flowered version of Anemone apennina that blooms in the wooded mountains of Corsica and Italy. It is a trailing rhizomatous plant that spreads over time. It forms a low clump of beautifully dissected leaves adorned with pretty white flowers in spring. It visually resembles the white Greek anemone (Anemone blanda 'White Splendour'), but prefers rather humid climates. It thrives in a cool, semi-shaded rockery or under deciduous bushes that provide sunlight in late winter and spring. 

Anemone apennina is a perennial herbaceous plant with tuberous roots belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. It originates from the mountainous regions of southern central Europe, including Italy, Dalmatia, and former Yugoslavia. It forms a clump that reaches a minimum height of 20cm (8in) and a width of 30cm (12in) or more. Its delicate foliage somewhat resembles parsley, with dark green, palmate leaves composed of 3 leaflets, themselves deeply lobed into 3 toothed segments. The undersides of the leaves are velvety and soft, distinguishing them from the leaves of the Greek anemone. This foliage appears early in spring, depending on the climate, and disappears in summer. The flowers bloom between April and May, earlier or later depending on the region. They resemble small daisies, measuring 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter, composed of 10 to 15 narrow, almost linear, petal-like sepals, which are white with a pale-yellow centre. The flowering is followed by the formation of numerous seeds that easily germinate in light soil.

Graceful and easy to grow in any well-drained soil that is not too dry, Anemone apennina 'Alba' enjoys sunlight in early spring, but prefers some shade in summer. This small plant eventually forms beautiful colonies through spontaneous self-seeding. It brightens up the base of trees, rockeries, or borders from spring onwards. Plant it under deciduous trees and shrubs that flower in spring, such as ornamental apple trees, flowering cherry trees, and magnolias. It can be associated with Naples cyclamen and numerous small spring bulbs.