Anemone blanda Charmer

Anemone Blanda Charmer, which could be translated as 'Charming Anemone', is a little-known yet delightful variety of flowering anemone. This small plant naturalises easily, forming beautiful carpets of flowers as soon as the first sunny days arrive. They are reminiscent of small daisies, and their enamel hues look wonderful among whitened stones or at the base of early-flowering trees. Mix the blanda anemones, their colors blend very well together! Plant them en masse at the base of shrubs or deciduous hedges: they multiply very easily in well-drained soil, and are resistant to dry and hot summers.

Anemone blanda is a herbaceous perennial plant with tuberous roots from the family Ranunculaceae. Native to mountainous areas of Greece and Turkey, it is a small plant of 15cm (6in) in all directions, with a spreading cushion habit, hardy and well adapted to summer drought.  It self-seeds spontaneously in light soils. Its delicate foliage somewhat resembles parsley, it is dark green, finely cut and strongly dentate. It appears early in spring at the same time as the flowers, and then disappears in autumn, or sometimes in the middle of summer if the soil is dry. The flowers bloom in large numbers, from the month of March, as soon as the first sunny days arrive. The flowers of this Charmer variety resemble small daisies, about 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter, composed of about fifteen petals in a lovely pink colour, spotted with white around the small light yellow centre. The flowering is followed by the formation of numerous seeds that germinate easily in light soil.

Very floriferous, easy to grow in well-drained soil, Anemone blanda enjoys the sun in early spring but likes to be slightly shaded in summer in hot climates. This small plant eventually forms large colonies through spontaneous sowing. Spreading as groundcover, it brightens up flower beds, rockeries or borders from spring and works well in planters for balconies, patios and window sills. The flowers of Anemone blanda, in pastel or brighter shades, work wonders under spring-flowering trees and shrubs, especially under apple trees, flowering cherries, and magnolias. Laden with flowers but still without leaves, their pastel colours will echo the enamel hues of Anemone blanda.

A tip: we love mixing these flowers with the emerging foliage of peonies in spring!