Anemone
De Caen anemonePoppy anemone
De Caen anemone
Soaking the corms overnight before planting is the single most useful step for this genus — the small, knobbly corms are prone to sitting dry and failing to sprout otherwise, unlike most bulbs in this KB which don't need pre-soaking.
Care
Regular watering while in growth and flower; the small corms dry out and fail if left too dry after planting.
Free-draining soil, moderately fertile.
Deadhead spent flowers to prolong the display; let foliage die back naturally after flowering before clearing away.
Needs no feeding — these are small woodland and meadow corms that build their own reserves in a few weeks of spring growth. A light leaf-mould mulch is more use than fertiliser.
Lift a congested colony when dormant in summer and break the knobbly corms apart, or let the woodland kinds spread by themselves, which they do steadily once settled.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- FebruarySoak corms overnight in water before planting to rehydrate them — a step that noticeably improves and speeds up germination for this genus. how ›
- MarchPlant corms successively over a few weeks for a longer flowering season into late spring.
- JuneLet foliage die back naturally after flowering finishes; corms can be lifted and stored dry, or left in well-drained soil in milder gardens.
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- FebruarySoak corms overnight in water before planting to rehydrate them — a step that noticeably improves and speeds up germination for this genus. how ›
- MarchPlant corms successively over a few weeks for a longer flowering season into late spring.
- JuneLet foliage die back naturally after flowering finishes; corms can be lifted and stored dry, or left in well-drained soil in milder gardens.
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- JanuarySoak corms overnight in water before planting to rehydrate them — a step that noticeably improves and speeds up germination for this genus. how ›
- FebruaryPlant corms successively over a few weeks for a longer flowering season into late spring.
- MayLet foliage die back naturally after flowering finishes; corms can be lifted and stored dry, or left in well-drained soil in milder gardens.
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- JanuarySoak corms overnight in water before planting to rehydrate them — a step that noticeably improves and speeds up germination for this genus. how ›
- FebruaryPlant corms successively over a few weeks for a longer flowering season into late spring.
- MayLet foliage die back naturally after flowering finishes; corms can be lifted and stored dry, or left in well-drained soil in milder gardens.
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. No growth appears weeks after planting.
What to do. Almost always planted too dry — soak corms overnight before planting, which dramatically improves germination for this genus specifically.
How to spot it. Soft, mushy corms, especially in heavy or waterlogged soil.
What to do. Improve drainage before replanting; this genus's small corms are particularly prone to rotting in wet, heavy ground.
How to spot it. Not a plant health problem, but a common mix-up in this KB.
What to do. This spring-flowering corm type and the herbaceous, rhizome-forming autumn Anemone (hupehensis/japonica) are cared for very differently — check which template applies before following any advice.
Japanese anemone
Japanese anemone
This is a genuinely different plant in practice from the spring-flowering, corm-grown Anemone template also in this KB — this one is a herbaceous perennial that spreads by rhizome, flowers in late summer/autumn rather than spring, and is planted as a potted or bare-root perennial rather than a dry corm. Don't apply one template's routine to the other.
Care
Tolerates a wide range of exposure, including quite shady spots, though flowers most freely with some sun.
Appreciates reliably moist soil, especially while establishing; reasonably drought-tolerant once well settled in.
Moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil; tolerates heavier soils better than most of this KB's border perennials.
Cut back dead foliage and flower stems to ground level in late autumn or winter once fully finished.
A light feed with a compost mulch in spring is enough. These are vigorous once settled and feeding mostly encourages the running roots to travel further than you wanted.
Root cuttings in late autumn are the reliable method: 5cm sections of thick root laid horizontally in gritty compost. Lifting a rooted runner from the edge of the clump in spring works just as well and takes a minute.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- MarchMulch and feed lightly as growth resumes in spring. how ›
- AugustEnjoy the main late-summer to autumn flowering display.
- NovemberCut back dead foliage and flower stems to ground level once fully finished for the season. how ›
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchMulch and feed lightly as growth resumes in spring. how ›
- AugustEnjoy the main late-summer to autumn flowering display.
- NovemberCut back dead foliage and flower stems to ground level once fully finished for the season. how ›
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- FebruaryMulch and feed lightly as growth resumes in spring. how ›
- AugustEnjoy the main late-summer to autumn flowering display.
- NovemberCut back dead foliage and flower stems to ground level once fully finished for the season. how ›
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- FebruaryMulch and feed lightly as growth resumes in spring. how ›
- AugustEnjoy the main late-summer to autumn flowering display.
- DecemberCut back dead foliage and flower stems to ground level once fully finished for the season. how ›
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. New shoots appearing well beyond the original planting spot.
What to do. This genus spreads steadily by underground rhizome once established — plant with this in mind, or be prepared to dig out unwanted runners each year; not a sign of a problem, just a vigorous habit.
How to spot it. Little visible growth or flowering soon after planting.
What to do. Normal for this genus — it typically takes a couple of seasons to settle in before flowering and spreading in earnest; be patient rather than assuming it has failed.
How to spot it. White coating on leaves, usually late in the season.
What to do. Usually cosmetic this late in the year on an otherwise finished display; improve air circulation if it recurs.
Popular varieties
Questions
Anemone: is it hardy?
De Caen anemone: H6: Hardy in the vast majority of UK gardens. It survives down to −20 °C. Japanese anemone: H7: Fully hardy anywhere in the UK. It survives below −20 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
De Caen anemone: Does well in pots and makes an excellent cut flower, which is how this type is most often grown commercially. Japanese anemone: Can be grown in a large, deep pot, though this genus generally performs best and spreads most naturally planted in the ground.
Anemone: when do you prune it?
De Caen anemone: Deadhead spent flowers to prolong the display; let foliage die back naturally after flowering before clearing away. Japanese anemone: Cut back dead foliage and flower stems to ground level in late autumn or winter once fully finished. In the calendar for UK, pruning falls in November.
Anemone: when does it flower?
De Caen anemone: In the climate of UK it flowers in April–June. Japanese anemone: In the climate of UK it flowers in August–October.
When do you feed it?
De Caen anemone: Needs no feeding — these are small woodland and meadow corms that build their own reserves in a few weeks of spring growth. A light leaf-mould mulch is more use than fertiliser. Japanese anemone: A light feed with a compost mulch in spring is enough. These are vigorous once settled and feeding mostly encourages the running roots to travel further than you wanted. Feeding months, UK: April.