How to grow Anemones from corm

Native to the Mediterranean, coronaria anemones, or poppy anemones (sometimes called windflowers), sparkle like jewels.

Naturalizing easily, these charming flowers will make a stunning effect planted en masse in the garden border or container and will provide weeks of constant cut flowers.

Planting your bulbs

Pre-soak the corms for around 3-6 hours in room-temperature water before planting (it doesn't matter which way up). Since our corms come dried, you can “wake them up” before planting.

Choose a spot where they can be left undisturbed so they can naturalize and spread.

Plant the bulbs 6 centimeters deep and 12 - 15 cm apart from September to November, or (for later flowers in spring), February to April. Plant up to 75 corms per square meter. The general rule of thumb is to plant bulbs 3 times as deep as they are big.

When temperatures dip below freezing, cover the plants with a layer of frost cloth. Protect against extreme winter weather.

Anemones normally start to flower about three months after planting. Fall-planted corms will bloom in early spring and continue steadily for eight to 10 weeks.

Feed (fertilize) every couple of weeks with liquid seaweed. Keep soil dry during dormancy and provide a light mulch in late summer/early autumn.

If you cut flowers early, tubers will put their energy into producing a new stem.

Warning: Can be toxic to dogs and cats.

Care Essentials

Light: full to partial sun
Water: Keep soil moist (a thurough watering once a week during the growing season)
Soil: light, loamy, sandy, well-draining
Rate of growth: average (takes about 2 months to sprout and 3 to flower)
Flowering period: May to July
Hardiness: fully hardy
Height: 10-20 cm
Use: Containers, rock gardens, woodlands, long-lasting bouquets
Climate: USDA Zones 7 - 10 as perennials. Good for annuals anywhere. Italian hybrid varieties are typically less hardy.

Wintering your bulbs

When blooming ends in late autumn, let the leaves turn yellow and die back so the bulbs can rest for a few months until the next growing season. Avoid excessively wet conditions, especially when dormant.