Anemone Coronaria (ah-NEM-oh-nee kor-oh-NAR-ee-ah), also known as Poppy Anemone, is a herbaceous flowering perennial that belongs to the genus Anemone and from the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae.
It is one of the five Anemone species, together with the following:
- Anemone hortensis L.
- Anemone palmata L.
- Anemone pavonina Lam.
- Anemone somaliensis Hepper
These flowering bulbs are native to the warm Mediterranean regions and are generally abundant in subtropical and temperate regions of other continents, except for Antarctica, Australia, and New Zealand.
Anemone Coronaria is well-known for its poppy-like flowers with brightly colored petals and dark black centers.
The genus Anemone originated from the Greek word “anemos,” which means “the wind,” and references that these flowers are easily blown open by the wind.
According to Greek mythology, the anemone coronaria flowers sprung up from Adonis’s blood when he died.
This is because he was the mortal lover of the Greek Goddess Aphrodite, and when Aphrodite’s tears mingled with his blood, it became the anemone flower.
In remembrance of this, the anemone coronaria flowers are often known as Adonis flowers and represent the act of forsaken love, the goddess’s short-lived lover, and death.
In addition, anemone coronaria is often referred to as “lilies of the field” in the bible.
Anemone Coronaria also goes by several common names:
- Anemones
- Anemone Coronaria de Caen
- Windflower
- Crown Windflower
- Lily-of-the-field
- Spanish Marigold
- St. Brigid
De Caen and St. Brigid are the two most popular types of Anemone coronaria.
Quick Facts On Anemone Coronaria
- Family: Ranunculaceae
- Light: Full sun, bright partial sun/shade
- Temperature: 60° to 70° degrees Fahrenheit
- Water: Moist but well-drained soil
- Fertilizer: Weak liquid fertilizer solution
- Propagation: Through corms, tubers, or seeds
- Common Problems: Slugs, powdery mildew, and leaf spots
Anemone Coronaria Plant Care
How Big Do Anemone Coronaria Plants Grow?
The Anemone coronaria grows up 10″ to 16″ inches and may rise to a maximum height of 18″ inches on rare occasions.
It also has a spread of 5″ to 9″ inches wide.
When Does Anemone Coronaria Flower? Are The Flowers Fragrant?
The Anemone Coronaria produces cup-shaped flowers that consist of 5 to 8 showy tepals and a dark black center with a diameter of about 1″ to 3″ inches wide.
The flowers feature velvety tepals with a wide range of colors, including
- Red
- Purple/Lavender
- Blue
- Yellow-green
- White
Each vibrantly colored flower blooms atop a stiff tall stem that grows 9.5″ to 12.5″ inches tall with whorled or finely divided, deeply lobed, and ferny leaves.
The dark center is usually black and consists of a clump of pistils with stamens in a crown-like arrangement, hence the species name “corona.”
The Amenome Coronaria blooms with no real fragrance from mid to late spring and may extend until fall, depending on the species.
The flowering period also usually lasts from 3 to 4 weeks, and they come back to bloom each year.
What Are The Lighting Needs And Temperature Requirements?
Amenome Coronaria is a sun-loving plant, meaning it thrives in full sun but may also like partial shade spots in hot areas for growth and flowering.
For full sun, the amenome coronaria flowers require direct sunlight for about 6 hours or more a day while only requiring 2 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily in partial shade locations (south-facing or west-facing windows).
The ideal temperature for an amenome flowers ranges between 60° to 70° degrees Fahrenheit during daytime and do best in a temperature between 42° to 50° degrees Fahrenheit in the nighttime.
They are also semi-hardy plants, which grow in hardiness zones 7 to 10.
And since they are sensitive to freezing temperatures, they may get damaged when planted in locations with a temperature below 28° degrees Fahrenheit.
How And When To Water And Fertilize Anemone Coronaria?
Anemone coronaria flowers are low-maintenance plants and only require average or moderate watering during active growth periods with at least 1″ inches of water per week.
However, you may only need to water them occasionally to prevent after the anemone flowers bloom to prevent overwatering.
During the flowering period, liquid fertilizer or bone meal gives a nutrient boost and helps the Anemone coronaria create prolific blooms.
What Is The Best Soil For Anemone Coronaria, And When Should You Transplant?
Anemone Coronaria plants are best grown in fertile and moist soil with excellent drainage in landscape locations.
They also do well when planted in sandy soil, loamy soil, or soil amended with high organic matter.
Anemone Coronaria plants are not selective with soil pH, but they thrive in neutral, alkaline, or slightly acidic soil with a soil pH between 6 to 8.
When planting anemone coronaria, remember these steps:
- Before planting, soak corms for 3 to 4 hours or overnight in lukewarm water to encourage sprouts and promote quicker growth.
- Plant corms in humus-rich and well-drained soil, or you may amend the soil by adding peat moss, compost, ground bark, and other organic matter to prepare the soil before planting.
- Choose a location that receives half to a full sun a day.
- Dig a hole and plant the corms at a spacing of 2″ to 4″ inches apart at a depth roughly 1″ to 3″ inches.
- If you are planting the rhizomatous types, place each corm in a separate container or pot.
- Water the corms right after planting to soak the soil.
- Water regularly during the growing season and lessen the water intake once the corms enter dormancy.
Does Anemone Coronaria Need Special Grooming Or Maintenance?
Deadheading and pruning are unnecessary for the anemone coronaria, but you may remove yellowed, dried, or dead foliage to let them rest until the next growing season.
How To Propagate Windflower?
Windflower is easy to grow through different propagation methods via seeds, digging and dividing corms or tubers, and replanting them.
Here are the steps to follow to store the bulbs properly for propagation:
- Once the foliage has died back, dig up the corms or tubers.
- For corm types, discard offset corms or any decayed and soft parts.
- For rhizomatous types, shake off the dirt and divide the roots.
- Either store the corms in a cool and dry place for planting or replant them immediately.
On the other hand, seed propagation of a windflower is a slow method usually practiced by professionals.
To do seed propagation, do the following:
- First, collect the windflower seeds from the dried seed head.
- Then, sow the seeds in a loose but well-drained soil mix and barely cover them.
- Keep the seedlings outside under a layer of mulch during winter.
Poppy Anemone Pests and Disease Problems
Poppy Anemone plants are relatively deer, rabbit, and critters resistant, but they may be subjected to common pests and diseases, including:
- Slugs
- Caterpillars
- Powdery mildew
- Leaf spots
Uses of Poppy Anemone
Poppy anemone is an easy to grow perennial flowering plant that works well when planted in landscapes, including:
- Beds
- Borders
- Rock gardens
- Containers
- Woodland garden borders
They are also perfect as a cut flower and used for bouquets, centerpieces, and wedding arrangements.
However, careful handling is also crucial for poppy anemone plants because their parts are poisonous when still fresh, including:
- Stems
- Leaves
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Seeds
- Roots
- Bark
When ingested in large quantities, they may cause the following symptoms:
- Irritation of mouth
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
When in contact with the sap, they may cause the following symptoms:
- Mild skin irritation
- Blistering