Grecian windflower
Anemone blanda · Ranunculaceae
📷 Zeynel Cebeci · CC BY-SA 4.0
⚠️ Contient des ranunculines (irritantes). Ingestion : troubles digestifs, irritation buccale et cutanée chez chiens/chats/enfants.
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant grecian windflower: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Anemone blanda
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Plant type
- Herbaceous perennial tuber
- Adult height
- 20 to 25 cm
- Flowering
- March to April
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (-15°C)
- Origin
- Mediterranean region and Asia Minor
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Plant rhizomes in September at 5 cm depth in well-loosened soil. Keeping them out of the ground for more than a few weeks risks germinal desiccation.
The common mistake
Exposing them to air too long before planting or planting too deep: weak or no germination.
The pro's trick
Buy fresh in September, plant within 4-5 days max.
Care
Light Exposure
Grecian windflower prefers a location in part shade or dappled light under deciduous trees. It also tolerates direct sun in cool regions. Avoid overly shaded areas that would reduce flowering.
Watering
Water regularly when planting and during active growth (February-April). Once established, the anemone is satisfied with natural rainfall. Reduce watering in summer when the foliage disappears.
Soil
Prefer well-draining soil, rich in organic matter and slightly calcareous. Anemone fears winter waterlogging. Adding compost at planting time improves results.
Fertilizer
Balanced fertilizer applied in spring is sufficient. Enrich the soil with decomposed compost at planting time. No additional feeding is necessary in subsequent years for this undemanding species.
Pruning and Cleanup
No pruning is required. Let the foliage yellow naturally after flowering to allow the plant to store energy in the tuber. You can remove dried foliage in June.
Diseases and Pests
Anemone blanda is very robust. Watch for powdery mildew in humid, warm conditions. Rodents can damage the tubers: plant them in wire baskets in at-risk areas. Generally unproblematic.
Did you know?
Grecian windflower conquered European gardens in the 19th century thanks to botanist explorers who brought it back from Turkey and the Middle East. Its name 'blanda' means 'pleasant' in Latin, and it perfectly embodies the arrival of spring with its sky-blue, pink or white flowers that bloom between the snow and snowdrops.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Stinking helleboreHelleborus foetidus
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- Lenten roseHelleborus orientalis
- Hubei AnemoneEriocapitella hupehensis
- Corsican helleboreHelleborus argutifolius
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.