Anemones Flower Facts
Comes February i find myself adding anemones in almost all my designs…who could blame me? they are stunning, there is something about that dark center that just stares right through me.
Here are 10 facts you might not have knwn about these wild blooms.
1- Anemones are a part of the Ranunculaceae family
Ranunculaceae is a family of over 2,000 known species of flowering plants in 43 genera, distributed worldwide. The largest genera are Ranunculus, Delphinium, Thalictrum, Clematis, and Aconitum.
2 - Anemones are also called "wind flowers."
The name “anemone” is derived from Greek which means “windflower.” The name comes from the fact that the delicate flowers are blown open by the wind, which in turn blows away the dead petals as well.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Greek anemōnē means “daughter of the wind”, from ánemos the wind god + feminine patronymic suffix -ōnē (i.e. daughter). The Metamorphoses of Ovid tells that the plant was created by the goddess Venus when she sprinkled nectar on the blood of her dead lover Adonis
3 - Anemones symbolize fragility and love.
Anemones' association with fragility is outlined in the Victorian-era "language of flowers," in which blooms were paired with symbolic meanings for social purposes in order to share unspoken messages, even secrets. The flowers' connection to loyalty and love comes from Greek myth, when the goddess Aphrodite is said to have wept for the slain Adonis. Where her tears and his blood touched the earth, anemones grew.
4- There are some quite famous depictions of Anemones
Anemones are often depicted in various paintings by Impressionist painters including Matisse and Monet, who had deep appreciations for nature and flowers.
5 - Anemones come in a variety of sizes and colors
Anemones blooms from spring to fall. You can find them n single and double bloomed forms with five or six petals each.
They offer up a rainbow of blossoms, white, yellow, silver-pink, rose, blue, purple, scarlet, gray, rust, copper, and coral.
6 - The most popular type of anemone is the Japanese Anemones
Japanese anemone is a delightful perennial that blooms its head off in late summer and fall, producing daisy-like flowers in shades of white and pink. This easy-care perennial forms a mound of divided foliage that looks attractiveeven when not in bloom. Because it grows 2 to 4 feet tall, Japanese anemone is perfect for the middle or back of the border. It's also good for mass plantings because it slowly spreads via underground stems.
Butterflies also enjoy feasting on the flowers of Japanese anemone. Plus, Japanese anemone is relatively deer resistant.
Hardy from zones 4-8.
7- Anemone plants are pretty easy to care for
Once they're established in the garden. They like regular water in well-drained soil and a balance of sun and shade. A number of species will spread vigorously under the right conditions.
8- Their symbolysm varies by region
In the Near East, they are believed to carry disease and represent bad luck.
Europeans used to think anemones carried bad omens and misfortune. Therefore, people would hold their breath through fields of anemone to avoid bringing this supposed misfortune upon themselves.
In English and Irish folk tales, many believed that fairies would sleep within the petals as the closed up at night. In depictions of fairies, you will often also see anemone flowers alongside them.
In Chinese culture, red anemones are also associated with death.
9- Anemones are aware of time….
The petals close up at night and reopen in the morning to protect itself from cold nights. Because of this, anemones can often also represent relaxation.
10- they are the gift that keeps on gifting
Anemones are perennial flowers so they will grow back year after year
