Barely a hand’s height, its brilliant red bloom so like a poppy that it borrowed the name, the poppy anemone (Anemone coronaria) grows from flat, patty-shaped tubers and earns its keep in edges, rocky ground, beds, containers and bouquets alike. Give it sun and well drained, even sandy soil, and the tubers will not rot.
| Name | Anemone coronaria |
|---|---|
| Family | Ranunculaceae |
| Type | Tuberous perennial |
| Height | 2 to 12 inches (5 to 30 cm) |
| Exposure | Full sun and part sun |
| Soil | Ordinary, well drained |
| Flowering | March to May or September/October |
It will decorate edges and rocky ground but also flower beds and bouquets in spring or summer. If you’ve got a terrace or balcony, it will also grow well in garden boxes and containers.
Poppy anemone is a tuber plant. Since they’re round and flat like those of cyclamen, some people call them “patties”. You must place the tubers in the ground in spring or in fall (preference for fall) and always in well drained soil, or even sandy soil, to avoid any excess moisture that might lead the bulbs to rot.
Propagating Anemone coronaria It is very simple to do, and it’s even recommended to multiply your poppy anemones every 2 or 3 years to regenerate the growth base and thus rejuvenate older bulbs.
There’s no trimming needed, but you can still eliminate flowers as they wilt away. This triggers renewed blooming.
Once all the leaves have dried out, and in no case before they have done so, you can cut them off very short before winter. Simply spread the cut leaves together with other dried leaves over the root tubers to protect them from the cold.
You can either leave the tubers in the ground, or dig them out for storage indoors in a cool, dry spot that doesn’t freeze over.
Most anemone species bloom several times during the year from Spring to Fall, but Anemone coronaria only blooms until the end of Summer. Note that the name “Spanish marigold” also designates this Anemone coronaria.
A perfect fit for perennial flower beds, or to line edges and mixed borders, you can even use poppy anemone as a wonderful bouquet flower. In Israel, part of the region where this flower is native to, magnificent expanses of this beautiful flower attract flocks of tourists.
Other species and varieties of spring-blooming anemones include Anemone blanda or Grecian windflower, Anemone apennina. On the other hand, anemone species that bloom in Summer or Fall typically include the famous Japanese anemone, Anemone bupehensis and Anemone rivularis which is actually the earliest summer bloomer. These are all perfect for lining edges, and also will thrive in underbrush or to cover a bare surface.
Flowers are generally blue or white, but some species will boast red or purple flowers. They appear in spring, around April to May.
Named poppy anemones fall into two main camps: the single-flowered De Caen types and the semi-double to double Saint Brigid types. Use the table below to match colour and flower form to your beds, pots or vases.
| Variety | Flower form | Colour | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| ‘Hollandia’ (De Caen Group) | Single, black centre | Scarlet red | Beds, cutting, containers |
| ‘Mister Fokker’ (De Caen Group) | Single, black centre | Violet-blue | Beds, edges, cutting |
| ‘The Bride’ (De Caen Group) | Single, green-white centre | Pure white | Cutting, pale colour schemes |
| ‘Sylphide’ (De Caen Group) | Single, black centre | Magenta-pink | Beds, containers, cutting |
| ‘Lord Lieutenant’ (Saint Brigid Group) | Semi-double to double | Deep blue-purple | Borders, long-lasting cut flower |
| ‘Mount Everest’ (Saint Brigid Group) | Double | White | Containers, cutting |
Anemones are not all on the same calendar: some open in spring, others carry the display through summer and autumn. Here is how the species named in this article compare.
| Species | Flowering season | Best used for |
|---|---|---|
| Anemone coronaria (poppy anemone) | March to May, or September/October, and only until the end of summer | Edges, rocky ground, flower beds, containers and bouquets |
| Anemone blanda (Grecian windflower) | Spring, around April to May | Lining edges, underbrush, covering bare surfaces |
| Anemone apennina | Spring, around April to May | Lining edges, underbrush, covering bare surfaces |
| Japanese anemone | Summer or fall | Lining edges, underbrush, covering bare surfaces |
| Anemone rivularis | The earliest summer bloomer | Lining edges, underbrush, covering bare surfaces |
Flowers are generally blue or white, but some species will boast red or purple blooms.
Watch out if you have children because this plant is poisonous. It shouldn’t be ingested.
