Anemones are charming, low maintenance additions to the garden and come in a vast range of cultivars and hybrids, from the tiny alpine types to the large clump-forming species, some with fibrous roots others forming rhizomes or tubers.
Anemones create appealing, long lasting border displays planted in drifts or random groupings, and with various coloured flowers are a source of much joy and delight.
Grown in pots they are great for those areas that need a 'pop' of colour. Another bonus is their long vase life of up to ten days, making them a favourite with florists.
Anemones have been an inspirational subject for artists through the ages as seen in one of the most famous paintings 'Still Life With Anemones' by the great master Claude Monet.
Of the 120 species of these lovely little flowers in the Ranunculaceae or buttercup family, native to Europe, Anemone coronaria would be among one of the most popular we see growing in our gardens.
This low growing plant, 12 to 15cms high, has light green lacy, fern-like leaves on stiff stems that bear bright single or double poppy-like blooms in shades of pink, red, purple, blue and white, some with a very decorative black centre.
This year's display of these anemones is coming to end so wait until the plants have died down completely before lifting and storing the tubers in a cool, dry place for planting out next autumn. But in saying that, I think the best results are gained if these plants are treated as annuals with new tubers purchased each year.
Next autumn plant corms for an awesome spring display.
For best results soak the tubers in water for about 12 hours before planting to hasten them into growth. Water well after planting, then weekly until the foliage appears. When growing, only water to supplement rainfall as the tiny tubers can die if kept too wet for too long.
When the buds start to form a regular application of liquid fertiliser will prolong the flowering season.
Other noteable anemones worth a place in the garden include the Anemone hybrids with the semi-double white 'Luise Uhink', the rose pink semi-double 'Montrose' and the single pale pink 'September Charm' being outstanding cultivars.
Anemone hupehensis, the Japanese anemone, is a clump-forming species that can reach one metre tall featuring large flowers in shades of white, pink or mauve with a central cluster of yellow stamens in single and double forms. Look out for A. 'Red Wine' a stunning newcomer.
These stately plants are in their element left to roam freely in wild gardens. Prune to the ground in winter.
For woodland or partly shaded areas A. apennia, named after the Apennine Mountains where they grow wild, with blue/purple single flowers; A. nemorosa in semi-double white, star-shaped flowers and the golden/yellow cup-shaped flowered A. ranunculoides are good examples.
Anemone sylvestis, or snowdrop anemone, is a creeping perennial that forms a lovely carpet of single, upward facing, white flowers. Another low-growing anemone is A. 'Vestal' that forms large swathes of single or double white flowers. Both grow in partial shade.