Anemonoides blanda
Greek anemone
South-eastern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean
Overview
Anemonoides blanda is a tuberous perennial growing 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) tall, forming low mounds from a knobbly underground tuber. The leaves are dark green, deeply divided into three lobed and toothed segments, giving a ferny outline, and rise on long stalks from the base. Solitary daisy-like flowers 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) across open in early spring, each with 9-15 narrow petal-like sepals around a central boss of yellow stamens. Flower colour ranges from blue to white, mauve, and pink depending on the form. The flowers close at night and in dull weather and open flat in sun. After flowering, the foliage yellows and dies back by early summer, leaving the plant dormant underground until the following spring. It spreads slowly by tuber offsets and self-seeding to form colonies. All parts contain protoanemonin, which causes irritation if eaten or handled.
Native Range
Native to south-eastern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, from the Balkans and Greece through Turkey to the Caucasus. Grows in open woodland, scrub, and rocky hillsides on free-draining soils, flowering before the tree canopy closes over in spring.Suggested Uses
Grown in woodland gardens, rock gardens, and beneath deciduous shrubs and trees for early spring flowers and ferny foliage. Naturalises in grass and open ground where the soil is free-draining. Planted in drifts at 3-4 inch (8-10 cm) spacing, it forms spreading carpets over several years.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 6"
Width/Spread4" - 6"
Bloom Information
Flowers from late February to April, with peak bloom in March. Individual plants flower for 3-4 weeks. In colder regions flowering may begin in late March and extend into early May. Flowers open flat in sunshine and close in dull or cold weather.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
blue, white, mauve, or pinkFoliage Description
dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to partial shade on free-draining soils and tolerates the dry shade beneath deciduous trees once dormant in summer. Tubers are planted 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) deep in autumn, after soaking overnight to aid establishment. Established plants need no watering, drawing on spring moisture before dying back. It spreads by tuber offsets and self-seeding into open ground. The foliage dies back naturally in early summer, building tuber reserves for the next year. Tubers may rot in heavy, waterlogged soils.Pruning
No pruning is required. Spent foliage is left to die down naturally in early summer, after which it can be cleared. Congested colonies can be lifted and divided when dormant in late summer.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing