In short
- Grows from a small, knobbly tuber planted in autumn at a depth of about 5 cm.
- Flowers at the turn of March and April, before the leaves open on the trees.
- Low, 10-15 cm - ideal for spring carpets beneath the canopies of deciduous trees.
- After flowering (May-June) the above-ground parts wither and the plant enters summer dormancy.
- It is worth soaking the small tubers for several to a dozen or so hours before planting so they root more quickly.
Botanical data
- Family
- Ranunculaceae (Ranunculaceae)
- Height
- 0.1–0.15 m
- Width
- 0.1–0.15 m
- Habit
- Clump-forming
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Position
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil
- Humus-rich, Sandy, Loamy
- pH reaction
- pH 6–7.5
- Moisture
- Moderate
- Bloom
- March–April
- Hardiness
- USDA 5a–8b
- Propagation
- From bulbs / tubers, By division, From seed
Characteristics
The Grecian windflower grows from a small, irregular, knobbly tuber 1-2 cm across, from which several long-stalked basal leaves develop in spring - deeply three-parted and further dissected, with a dark green, somewhat fern-like texture. The plant forms low clumps 10-15 cm tall and of similar width. Single flowers are borne on erect stalks above a whorl of three small leaves (an involucre). The flower is 2.5-4 cm across and made up of 9-15 narrow, strap-shaped tepals surrounding a cluster of yellow stamens - hence the daisy-like, radiating appearance. The colour ranges from intense blue through violet and pink to white, depending on the cultivar. The flowers open in sunshine and close in the evening and on overcast days. Flowering falls at the turn of March and April, before the leaves open on the deciduous trees, which lets the plant make use of the spring light reaching the forest floor. After flowering, in May-June, the above-ground parts wither and the plant enters summer dormancy as an ephemeral geophyte - the tuber survives drought and heat underground. The Grecian windflower tolerates frost in USDA zones 5-8; it needs a well-drained, humus-rich soil of neutral reaction and a sunny position or dappled partial shade beneath trees. In favourable conditions it self-seeds and spreads by tubers, in time forming extensive, self-sustaining carpets.
Popular cultivars
- ‘White Splendour’
- The most vigorous and one of the most popular cultivars; pure white, large flowers with a slightly pinkish underside to the tepals. RHS Award of Garden Merit.
- ‘Blue Shades’
- A mixture of seedlings in various shades of blue and violet, from pale lavender to deep navy - giving a natural, varied carpet.
- ‘Radar’
- Intensely carmine-pink, almost magenta flowers with a distinct white centre. A cultivar of vivid colour, distinguished with the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
- ‘Charmer’
- Deep pink flowers of a clean, warm hue; it contrasts well with white and blue cultivars in mixed plantings.
- ‘Pink Star’
- Large, pale pink flowers with a yellow centre and numerous narrow tepals that give them a star-shaped form.
Growing and care
Watering
Moisture is needed mainly in spring, during growth and flowering. In summer the tubers are dormant and tolerate the soil drying out; a waterlogged site leads to their rotting.
0Fertilizing
A thin layer of compost or leaf mould is enough; the plant does not require intensive feeding.
Planting
It is worth soaking the small tubers in water for several to a dozen or so hours before planting, which speeds up rooting. Well-drained soil enriched with humus; on heavy soils add sand.
Pruning
The yellowed leaves dry out on their own and can be removed only after they have completely withered.
Companion plants
Good companions
Podobny termin sadzenia i wczesnowiosennego kwitnienia; wyższe narcyzy tworzą tło dla niskiego dywanu zawilców.
Oba to niskie geofity kwitnące bardzo wcześnie, o zbieżnych wymaganiach glebowych — razem wydłużają sezon kwitnienia rabaty.
Błękity obu gatunków zlewają się w wiosenny dywan pod drzewami, a oba znoszą letni spoczynek w cieniu rozwiniętych liści.
Bad companions
Letnie podlewanie utrzymujące mokre podłoże sprzyja gniciu bulw zawilca w okresie spoczynku.
The evidence level indicates whether the relationship is backed by research, observation, or gardening tradition.
Toxicity
| For whom | Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Humans | Mild | The fresh parts of buttercup-family plants contain protoanemonin, which can irritate the skin and mucous membranes; if ingested it causes gastrointestinal complaints. |
| Dogs | Mild | — |
| Cats | Mild | — |
History and origin
The genus Anemone takes its name from the Greek anemos, meaning wind - hence the Polish "zawilec" and the English windflower; the flowers stir at the lightest breeze. The specific epithet blanda means "gentle, charming" in Latin. Modern taxonomic databases (POWO), after splitting the genus Anemone, classify the species as Anemonoides blanda, yet in horticulture and the trade the name Anemone blanda remains in common use. The species is native to south-eastern Europe and western Asia, where it grows in open woodland and on rocky slopes. It reached the gardens of Western and Central Europe in the 19th century and quickly became popular as a plant for naturalizing beneath trees and in rock gardens. Today the tubers of the Grecian windflower are mass-produced in the Netherlands and sold as material for autumn planting, alongside daffodils, crocuses and tulips. Several cultivars, among them the white White Splendour and the carmine Radar, have received the horticultural RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Uses
The Grecian windflower is at its best planted en masse - several dozen tubers of one or several cultivars - beneath the canopies of deciduous trees, along the edges of thickets, in rock gardens and at the front of perennial borders. Flowering before the trees leaf out, it forms dense, colourful carpets that give way after flowering to the emerging perennials. The tubers are planted in autumn, in September and October, at a depth of about 5 cm and 8-10 cm apart; because they are small and irregular, it is hard to tell which end is the top, so they are laid flat, and soaking before planting greatly improves their rooting. The plant combines well with other early-spring geophytes - daffodils, crocuses, squills and glory-of-the-snow - and with low woodland perennials that hide the spot left by the withered windflowers. Over time the species naturalizes, self-seeding and spreading by tubers; in an undisturbed spot it can persist in the ground for years without lifting. It needs no pruning or feeding beyond a thin layer of compost, and its greatest threat is over-watering in summer, when the tubers are dormant.
Trivia
- The flowers close at night and on overcast days and open only in sunshine - a response to temperature and light.
- The striking, daisy-like look of the flower is created not by petals but by 9-15 coloured tepals, because buttercups have no separate calyx and corolla.
- Although it bears the name "Grecian," the species grows wild over a much larger area - from the Balkans to the Caucasus and Lebanon.
Frequently asked questions
When should Grecian windflower tubers be planted?
In autumn, in September and October, until the ground freezes. It is worth soaking the tubers in water for several to a dozen or so hours before planting - heavily dried ones establish less well. They are planted at a depth of about 5 cm, 8-10 cm apart.
Which way up should the tuber be planted, given that it is hard to tell top from bottom?
Windflower tubers are small and irregular, so telling the top apart is often impossible. They can be laid flat or slightly on their side - the shoot will find its way upwards anyway. Soaking before planting further helps them get going.
Is the Grecian windflower frost-hardy in the Polish climate?
Yes, the species tolerates frost in USDA zones 5-8 and over most of the country overwinters in the ground without cover. In the coldest, exposed positions an autumn cover of mulch or leaves helps.
Why did the windflowers disappear in summer?
That is normal. The Grecian windflower is an ephemeral plant - after flowering, in May and June, its leaves yellow and wither, and the tuber enters summer dormancy underground. The plant regrows the following spring, which is why the spot should not be dug over during that time.
How does the Grecian windflower differ from the Japanese anemone?
They are two completely different plants. The Grecian windflower (Anemone blanda) is a low, 10-15 cm geophyte flowering from a tuber in early spring. The Japanese anemone is a tall, 80-120 cm perennial flowering in late summer and autumn (August-October), spreading by its roots.
Sources
- Plants of the World Online (POWO)Database (GBIF, POWO…)
- RHS — Anemone blandaInstitution / botanical garden
- Missouri Botanical Garden — Plant Finder: Anemone blandaInstitution / botanical garden
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