Anemone nemorosa (Wood Anemone)
Overview
Anemone nemorosa, commonly known as the Wood Anemone or Windflower, is a graceful and low-maintenance perennial wildflower that brings a natural, woodland charm to shaded parts of the garden. Native to the woodlands of the UK and Europe, it is prized for its early spring blooms, which create a soft carpet of star-like white flowers. It is particularly well-suited for informal gardens, borders, and underplanting beneath trees, and once established, it returns reliably each year.
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Appearance: Single, star-shaped blooms with 6–8 narrow petals. Usually white, often tinged with pink or lilac on the back of the petals.
- Flower Size: Around 2–4 cm across
- Flowering Time: March to May
- Foliage: Finely divided, fern-like green leaves which form a mound below the flowers and die back after flowering
Size & Spread
- Mature Height: 10–15 cm
- Mature Spread: 30–50 cm and will expand gradually through underground rhizomes
- Growth Habit: Low-growing and spreading, forms natural drifts over time
Planting & Positioning
- Best Planting Time: Autumn for rhizomes; spring or early autumn for potted specimens.
- Light Preference: Partial shade to full shade – ideal under deciduous trees
- Soil pH: Neutral to slightly acidic
- Soil Requirements: Moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil
- Position Tips: Choose a quiet, lightly shaded area where the soil remains cool and moist in spring
How to Plant
For Potted Plants:
- Dig a hole twice the width of the rootball.
- Remove the plant gently from its container and loosen the roots.
- Plant at the same depth it was growing in the pot, backfill, and water well.
Care & Maintenance
- Watering: Keep soil consistently moist during the growing season. Once established, the plant is tolerant of short dry spells.
- Feeding: No regular feeding required if soil is rich in organic matter. An annual mulch with leaf mould or compost in autumn is beneficial.
- Pruning: No pruning needed. Allow foliage to die back naturally to nourish the rhizomes.
- Dividing: Rarely needed. Best left undisturbed as it dislikes being moved.
- Pests/Diseases: Generally disease- and pest-free.
Seasonal Interest
- Spring: Starry white flowers bloom before many trees have fully leafed out.
- Summer: Foliage dies back completely, making space for summer plants.
- Autumn/Winter: Dormant underground.
Garden Uses
- Woodland and shade planting
- Underplanting for trees and shrubs
- Naturalising in lawns and meadows
- Pollinator-friendly spring gardens
- Cottage gardens and wildflower areas
Companion Plants
Works beautifully with:
- Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)
- Wild garlic (Allium ursinum)
- Primroses (Primula vulgaris)
- Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis)
- Shade-loving ferns and hellebores
Wildlife & Ecology
Anemone nemorosa supports biodiversity in the garden by:
- Providing early nectar and pollen for bees and hoverflies
- Offering ground cover that helps reduce soil erosion and supports micro-wildlife
- Being a part of native wildflower schemes and wildlife corridors
Good to Know
- Can take a few seasons to fully establish, but well worth the wait
- Will not tolerate heavy foot traffic – choose a quiet, undisturbed planting location
- Like many buttercup family members, the plant is mildly toxic if ingested
Everyday Gardener’s Tip
“Plant wood anemones under leaf-shedding trees where light filters through in early spring. They’ll spread gently over the years, rewarding you with a carpet of pure, peaceful blooms that need almost no care once established.”
Buying Perennials from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we lightly trim back our perennials after flowering and trim them back at the end of the season to ensure that the plants remain neat and tidy whilst in the pot. The more tender the plant the less we cut back to help protect exposed stems from winter frost. Depending on the plant variety we will then prune back further in spring once the risk of the more severe frosts is over.
As a result, depending on the time of year you buy perennials, they may not look like images showing their ‘prime time’ in flower and looking at their best.
From late autumn onwards and dependent on variety, there may be very little visible above the soil except for a few cut back dormant leaves or stems. It is perfectly normal for dormant plants to look like this from autumn onwards, they will however burst back into life in spring.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
Perennials are described and classified differently by different gardeners but all would agree that they are plants that come into flower every year from early spring to late summer, the exact time dependent on variety and most die back to ground level in autumn and winter.
As for all plants, soil preparation is time well spent. Dig over the area to be planted ensuring that the ground is free draining. If not then you may wish to either consider planting in a different spot or raising the level of the planting area by adding additional topsoil, well rotted garden compost and/or well rotted manure. Add ‘Fish, Blood and Bone’ fertiliser or a high potash fertiliser to encourage good root growth and development.
It’s always a good idea to plant a few of the same plant together, we recommend planting in 3’s or 5’s to provide a bold effect but allowing them plenty of room to develop.
Always check eventual plant heights when planning borders to ensure that the taller plants are at the back (or at the centre of an island bed) followed by the medium and then smaller low growing plants.
Remember to deadhead perennials after flowering, trim back lightly in autumn as required to tidy the border and if necessary trim again in spring once the risk of heavy frost has passed.
If perennials get too big, start to flower less and less or if it seems to be dying off from the centre, consider dividing the plant but always check that the particular variety is happy to be divided and that you divide at the right time of year for the plant.
By using this simple guide and a little time, perennials can make an absolutely spectacular difference to your garden.
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