Anemone is a large genus in the Ranunculaceae family with many tuberous or rhizomatous species. Species are distributed in both the cold and temperate regions of both hemispheres.
Anemone appenina is a rhizomatous plant of open woodland from Southern Europe with pale to deep blue flowers. Photo by John Lonsdale.
Anemone blanda is a tuberous species native to Greece and Turkey. Many cultivars are suitable for garden use. Photos by John Lonsdale.
Anemone blanda 'Atrocaerulea' taken in sun and shade by Mark Wilcox on 4 April 2004.
Anemone coronaria 'Hollandia' is one of the poppy anemones, here photographed by Jim McKenney in his Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, zone 7 garden. These plants had the protection of a cold frame during the winter. This species will survive the winter here without protection, but such plants rarely bloom well because the foliage is apt to be severely damaged.
Anemone hortensis is the ancestor of many modern hybrids. Its variability has helped to get a wide range of colours. In habitat it occurs in all shades between white and purple. Photo by Angelo Porcelli
Anemone nemorosa A very common wild flower in the woods around Cologne, Germany, typically blooming in the first week of April, often covering the floors of beech forests. Photos by Jamie Vande and John Lonsdale. The last picture was taken in the woods near Aberfeldy, Scotland by Bob Rutemoeller in May 2004. This species is rhizomatous.
Anemone nemorosa - Green Fringed Garden Seedling. A new cultivar appeared in my garden this year, growing between 'Vestal', which has a tuft of short white petals in the centre, and 'Bracteata' which is an unstable mix of green and white petals that varies from one flower to another, or from year to year. The new flower has a green-tinged fimbriated centre tuft that is longer than that of 'Vestal'. Photo by Diane Whitehead
Anemone nemorosa 'Kath Dryden' Photo by John Lonsdale.
Anemone palmata is from the Iberian Peninsula. It has wonderful succulent leaves, all basal, and rather tall stems bearing the most brilliant yellow, large "daisy-type" flowers. Its rhizome is a fingerlike one that can be divided up carefully. It would be a perfect plant for warm Mediterranean-climate areas, but it has failed outdoors here even in a warmer than average winter. It grows splendidly in the bulb frame, though.
The first photo was taken by Jane McGary. The next two were taken by Mary Sue Ittner who writes: "This is a close-up of the yellow flower from plants obtained from Jane and blooming March 2006 in Northern California where they have survived outside in a very wet winter. I didn't see the plant in 2007, but it is back in 2008."
Anemone pavonina is a plant from the Mediterranean (France to Turkey) where it occurs in open stony places. It is similar to Anemone coronaria . Flowering in spring, flowers are red, pink or purple. It prefers a warm sunny position. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner.
Anemone ranunculoides is a rhizomatous species that should not be allowed to dry out. This species with yellow flowers is from Europe and blooms in the spring. Photo by John Lonsdale
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