An Ode to Anemones

I don’t think I’ve ever met a person who doesn’t love anemones. That’s right, you heard me: love anemones. I know this is some pretty powerful language to be using, but I don't think I've ever met someone who just liked anemones; no, it's always love.

Anemone coronaria 'Lord Lieutenant'

It's hard not to fall head over heels for these gorgeous plants. The flowers are vibrant, large, and incredibly attractive. Maybe part of what makes them so downright delectable is that they flower now, in the cooler months, when we’re not seeing a ton of other flowers. Maybe I’m biased, but I think I would still notice them, even in the cacophony of blooms we see in the warmer seasons.

Anemone coronaria 'Lord Lieutenant'

One anemone, or windflower, that’s really stealing the show is Anemone coronaria ‘Lord Lieutenant,’ planted at our Welcome Center Plaza. The tall, raised beds at the Welcome Center help to bring these plants to the forefront by putting them right in your face and making them hard to miss. Sadly, it's easy to miss so many wonderful flowers because they’re low and out of view. Not this time, not with ‘Lord Lieutenant’!

Anemone coronaria foliage

Not only are the flowers breathtaking, but the foliage isn’t too shabby itself. The lacy foliage may look delicate, but it can stand up to frost and, in my experience, freezes too. Know what’s even better? The flowers do too! The only problem I have faced with anemones, both for flowers and foliage, is that the deer and rabbits enjoy eating them as much as I enjoy looking at them (just to clarify: that’s a lot)!

Anemone coronaria 'Mount Everest'

Not all of our anemones are planted at eye level and, like so many of our wonderful plant selections, you may need to look down (and sometimes even up!) to appreciate everything Brookgreen Gardens has to offer. ‘Mount Everest,’ an equally beautiful windflower is starting to put on its own show at the White Garden. This white flowered anemone is at the ends on either side of the main display bed and will surely steal the show in no time.

Anemone × hybrida 'Honorine Jobert'

Windflowers aren’t just turning heads in the spring! Other species, such as the Japanese anemones, flower in the fall. While they don’t look exactly the same, you can certainly see similarities. These flowers, which are often taller and a bit easier to notice, also boast larger leaves. Unlike the coronaria species, the Japanese anemones have their leaves, and later their flowers, in the warmer months, and eventually die down to the ground when it gets cold. The coronaria, on the other hand, do the opposite and retreat to the ground in the heat, and emerge in the cooler months. Ah, anemones are for all seasons. It doesn’t get better than that!

Anemone × hybrida

If you’re not quite sure what all the hype is about, then you likely haven’t visited with us to see these anemones for yourself! Don’t worry, it’s easy enough to remedy: take a trip to Brookgreen Gardens and experience the anemones, along with all of the other beacons of spring, soon!

See you in the Gardens!