Anemone blanda

Anemone blanda

Common name: winter windflower

Family: Ranunculaceae

Leaf: deeply cut and fern-like, delicately compound leaves

Flowers: daisy-like, dark blue flowers, each of which contains 9-14 showy petal-like sepals, but no petals (apetalous). Blooming in early spring.

Height: 0.5'-0.75'; Spread: 0.25-0.5'

Habit: spreading, tuberous, rooted perennial; Form: matting

Culture: Hardy in USDA zones 5-8. Easily grown in organically-rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Grows well in full in northern climates, but appreciates some afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Soak tubers overnight before planting. Does best with some wind protection (near a wall, a tree), etc. Keep soils consistently moist throughout the growing season. Plants will naturalize and spread by both tuberous rhizomes and by self-seeding (new seedlings blooming the second year). Will naturalize over time. Plants go dormant after flowering. Foliage may be cut back after it yellows.

Uses: groundcover, spring interest, planting for under a tree (it goes dormant in the summer, so will be less likely to be disturbed), rock garden, perennial border, wild garden or naturalized open woodland area. Container plant.

Origin: SE Europe, Cyprus, western Turkey, Caucasus