The term anemone covers a large selection of different varieties. Anemones, as the pretty spring and autumn bloomers are also called, are grown from perennials or tubers. The popular spring flower is almost exclusively tuberous anemones.
How do you properly plant and care for anemone bulbs?
Anemone bulbs should be planted in early spring. Soak in lukewarm water for several hours before planting, then plant in loosened soil with mature compost. Avoid waterlogging and water sparingly. Dig up in autumn and overwinter in a cool, dry and dark place.
This is what the anemone tubers look like
At first glance, anemone bulbs don't look like flower bulbs at all. They are black or dark brown, small and very irregularly shaped. They are also very hard. The term tuber is therefore more appropriate.
It is not possible to tell which way is up and down on the tuber. That doesn't matter either. When the anemone shoots, it automatically grows upwards. This is what distinguishes them from other flower bulbs.
Place the onions correctly
- Water before planting
- Dig planting hole
- Put onion in it
- Fill up the soil and go easy
The best time to plant anemone bulbs is early spring. You should not plant anemones in autumn because most of them freeze to death in sub-zero temperatures.
Because the bulbs are so hard, soak them in lukewarm water for several hours before planting. The tuber then sprouts faster and the anemone blooms earlier.
Properly care for anemones from tubers
Make sure the soil is not too moist. Waterlogging should not occur at all. A dry location with loosened soil is better.
Fertilize only with a little mature compost, which you add before planting. Water sparingly and only when the soil is very dry.
Collect caterpillars from the leaves. They eat large holes in the leaves and damage the plants.
Dig up tubers in autumn
Most anemone varieties grown from bulbs are not hardy. This applies even if the package says otherwise.
So that you can enjoy the anemones for a long time, you should dig them up in autumn, let them dry and overwinter the bulbs in a dry, cool and dark place. Overwintering is similar to that of other bulbous plants such as gladioli.
Tips & Tricks
The color palette of onion anemones ranges from white-toned to delicate pink to dark red, blue and bicolor flowers. The crown anemone, whose flowers are reminiscent of poppy blossoms, is particularly elegant.
