Anemone sylvestris

Anemone sylvestris: White Cups in Spring, Again in Fall

White, cup-shaped, lightly fragrant flowers in spring, and sometimes it sneaks an encore in fall. Snowdrop Anemone is the woodland bride who keeps renewing her vows. SAY 'I DO' TWICE A YEAR.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Anemone sylvestris
• Common Name: Snowdrop Anemone, Snowdrop Windflower
• Height: 30–45 cm (12–18 in)
• Spread: 30–45 cm (12–18 in), slowly spreading by rhizomes
• Flowers: White, cup-shaped, lightly fragrant, with yellow stamens
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer (May to June), with occasional fall flowers
• Foliage: Deeply divided, mid-green leaves
• Features: Lightly fragrant, ornamental seed heads

Where to Plant: Use it at the front of a border or along a woodland path, where the white flowers brighten light shade. It makes a nice loose ground cover between taller perennials.

Companion Plants: Plant snowdrop anemone at the front of a sunny or lightly shaded bed with colour to follow its spring show. Paeonia 'Angel Cheeks' opens soft pink bomb-type peonies at 70 cm in June. Veronica 'Royal Candles' adds violet-blue spikes at 30 to 38 cm in June and July. Hemerocallis 'Always Afternoon' brings mauve-purple daylilies at 50 to 55 cm from June to August. Pennisetum Prairie Winds® 'Lemon Squeeze' arches at 90 to 105 cm with chartreuse-gold blades.

Plant Care: Plant in part sun or full sun in loose, well-drained soil. It prefers light, slightly alkaline soil and spreads faster there. Heavy clay slows it down. Water through the first season. Once settled, it handles short dry spells. There's no need to deadhead, since the seed heads are part of the show. Tidy the foliage in late fall or early spring. Divide in spring or fall if it spreads beyond its space.

History: Snowdrop anemone grows wild in meadows and dry, open woods from central Europe east through Russia to the Caucasus and China, and its species name sylvestris means "of the woods." It's one of the few anemones that flowers in spring and often again in fall.

Final Thoughts: Fluffy seed heads follow, the deer pass and the pollinators show up. Plant it in sun or part sun. A LITTLE WHITE DRESS FOR THE GARDEN.