"Anemone"

Florist Home :: Flower Guides :: Anemone

About The Anemone

The Anemone is also called the Windflower,and Lily-of-the-Field. Anemone is pronounced 'a-NEM-o-nee'. The name is derived from the Greek word 'anemos' meaning 'wind'. In Roman times Pliny wrote that the anemone flower was opened by the wind. The flowers of the taller types are carried on long, wiry stems and nod gracefully in a breeze.

There are a number of different species and cultivars - see below. Anemone flowers come in vibrant shades of red, pink, blue, purple, and white, and have a dark center, sometimes ringed with white. But a white Anemone flower usually has a yellow-green center. Cut-flower blooms are borne on slender stems up to 12 inch (30 cm) long. Mona Lisa cultivars make the best cut flowers, having larger blooms, 4-5 inches (10-12.5 cm) across, on sturdier, taller stems (20 inches (50 cm) long). Also noteworthy are the single de Caen forms and the double St. Brigid types.

Anemone cut flowers are mainly available from September to May. The best time to buy an Anemone flower is when the petals have started to separate from the center, but are not lying flat.

Anemones are native to the eastern Mediterranean area and Asia Minor. In Greek myth the goddess Flora was jealous that her husband was attracted to the nymph Anemone. So she turned Anemone into the wind flower, leaving her at the mercy of the cruel North Wind.

Medicinally the Romans used the Anemone for preventing fever; it has also been applied to heal bruises and freckles. The Anemone has been used to treat cramp pains, menstrual problems and emotional distress. Anemones contain an acrid, poisonous chemical called anemonin. The Chinese associated an Anemone flower with death. They are now grown throughout Europe, especially in Italy and Israel.

Anemone Flower Care

1. Unpack your flowers straightaway. Fill a clean vase with clean lukewarm water and add a floral preservative solution, following the instructions provided.

2. Remove any leaves that would be below the water level in the vase. and any damaged leaves or flowers.

3. Cut off about 1 inch (2.5cm) from the bottom of the flower stems, with the stems under water; this is to maintain good water uptake. Make the cut at an angle so that the flower stems do not rest flat on the bottom of the vase.

4. Arrange your flowers in the vase so that they are attractively displayed.

5. In Anemone care it is important to keep them in a cool place and out of direct sunlight. Avoid draughts which will dehydrate the flowers. They do not like very hot or cold areas. In a hot place in the direct sun the flowers will soon die. Avoid standing the vase on electrical appliances because they give off heat. Place the vase in an evenly lit location to avoid stem curvature - the flowers bend towards the light.

Bent stems can be straightened out by wrapping them tightly in wet paper and placed, facing inwards, in a cool, dark spot, standing in water. They will straighten up as they imbibe water.

6. Check the water level frequently for an Anemone flower takes up a lot of liquid. Top up the vase with lukewarm water. Anemone flowers do not like being out of water for any length of time. And they do not like to be in deep water either.

7. Regularly remove damaged, or dying flowers and foliage. This helps the flowers last longer.

8. After 4 days remove the flowers from the vase. And cut off about 1 inch (2.5cm) from the bottom of the flower stems under water and at an angle . This will maintain good water uptake.

Flower Life

Vase life is 5-6 days at least, and if you give an Anemone care, it can last up to 10 days. The Anemone flower can be dried.

Types of Anemone

There are about 65 species of Anemone. Species flower in the spring, summer or fall, but most species are spring-flowering. Many Anemones have tubers or rhizomes, while others are ordinary perennial plants. They belong to the Buttercup family Ranunculaceae. The main Anemone species (Anemone sp.) are described below.

ANEMONE APENNINA, the Mountain Anemone, or Apennine Windflower, makes a superb rockery plant. From fern-like leaves arise stems each carrying a large, upright, flattish blue, white, or pink flower, with 10-20 narrow petals. Blooms in March and April.

ANEMONE BLANDA has attractive blooms of blue, mauve, pink or white. The 1-2 inch (2.5-5 cm.) diameter, daisy-like flowers have many narrow petals surrounding a golden, central disc. They appear in February to April. Plant in full sun, 2 inches (5 cm) deep and 4 inches (10 cm) apart, in well-drained, humus- rich soil. Anemone blanda naturalizes well in USDA climatic zones 4 - 7, especially under trees and shrubs which are still bare when the Anemone is flowering. Anemone blanda is known as the Grecian windflower.

ANEMONE CORONARIA, the Poppy Anemone, produces parsley-like leaves and showy flowers in iridescent blue, magenta, pink, and white. Each stiff stem carries a large (3 inch (7.5 cm) across), bowl-shaped flower, with 5-8 petals, which opens almost flat when mature. The stems are 8 - 12 inch (20-30 cm) long. The flowers are very popular for cutting and arranging in bowls. Always cut the stalks - never pull them. The de Caen strain produces single flowers and the St Brigid strain semi-double or double blooms. Native to the Mediterranean area.

Soak the clawed tubers of Anemone coronaria in water overnight before planting. Plant in full sun, in well-drained, humus-rich soil, 2 inches (5 cm) deep and 6 inches (15 cm) apart, with the toes or pointed end facing downwards. They are hardy in USDA zones 5 - 11. Plant in the fall, but in cold regions it is necessary to plant in spring after the last frost. If you stagger the planting dates, you can have them in bloom from early spring to late autumn. A November planting will give you flowers in February in favourable localities. Poppy Anemones are not long-lived.

ANEMONE JAPONICA is known as the Japanese Anemone. This species grows 2-4 feet (60-120 cm) high, and produces flowers in shades of red, pink, and white from August to October. The saucer-shaped blooms have a central boss of golden stamens and are 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter. There are a number of good named varieties and these make fine perennial plants for the border. After planting it takes time to establish, and it is not fully hardy in a severe winter.

ANEMONE NEMOROSA is the Wood Anemone, and is available in white, lilac, rich sky-blue, and shades of red and purple. It comes in single and double varieties. Do not let the rhizomes dry out. Plant them 1-1.5 inches (2.5-3 cm) deep. The flowering period is March to April.

ANEMONE PALMATA is the Cyclamen-Leaved Anemone, and has glossy yellow or pure white flowers in single and double varieties.

ANEMONE VITIFOLIA is the Vine-Leaved Anemone and comes from Nepal. It grows 4 feet high (1.2 m) and bears cup-shaped white flowers with yellow stamens in summer. Occasionally the blooms are pink-flushed.

There is more Anemone flower information available. Please check out the links on the left at the top of the page. Click here for more Anemone Information.

If you want to send flowers, roses, sympathy flowers or a gift basket please click on one of the links below to transfer to the appropriate page.

Or make your loved one feel over the moon with elegant jewelry.

For more than 40 years, PalmBeach Jewelry has provided their loyal customers a unique and extensive collection of quality jewelry and designer fragrances at discount prices. Browse the assortment of over 6,500 items - all at savings up to 85%!

Free shipping is always available on all merchandise orders. Buy with confidence - 90 day satisfaction guarantee. Satisfying customers since 1958, PalmBeach is listed as one of Internet Retailer magazines Top 500 web sites, HackerSafe and Verisign secure. Shoppers love the savings and convenience!

Please click on the image below for more details.