Today we are going to talk about a flower that gives us a wide variety of types of names. It’s about the anemone. His scientific name is Anemone and 120 known species are known to bloom throughout the year. They can be found in many countries in Europe and in North American areas, and even in Japan.
In this post you will learn about the special characteristics, how to care for them and curiosities of the anemone. Do you want to learn everything about this plant?
Special characteristics of the anemone
The anemone is comprised of an underground tuber that makes it quite a strong herb when it takes its roots to the ground. There is a marine predator in the coral and jellyfish zone that bears the same name. To distinguish them, the name of sea anemone is used. Many historians assure that the Greeks chose this word to name it, since it means flower of the wind. This name is due to the fact that its petals dry out, weaken and detach from the plant, flying away in the breeze of the wind.
The leaves have quite fine cuts and its flower is quite showy. They can be found in different colors that attract the attention of the area where it is grown. They are blue, red, white, pink and purple.. They can also be found in yellow, although they are the least common. Reason why they are highly valued.
The stems are quite elongated and allow them to support several flowers in the same place. The texture of the plant is similar to that of a fluff. For allergy sufferers it can cause itchy skin and strong sneezing. As we have said before, there are numerous varieties of this plant. One of them is the Japanese anemone. It blooms in the fall season. Another is the yellow wildflower, known as the buttercup. The flowers of this type of anemone are smaller and are rare to find. Likewise, the poppy, Chinese, narcissus, Wood, scarlet wind, pasque, winter and Canadian anemones, among others, are mentioned as the most showy.
In some countries the anemone is used to treat health problems. It has medicinal properties that can be applied in patients. The normal thing is to use them to relieve pain caused by cramps and the discomfort of menstruation in women.
Anemone cultivation
Thanks to its ability to adapt to environments, this plant can be grown in different weather seasons. If we want it to grow in the best condition so that it has all its colors, planting at the end of autumn is recommended. This makes it germinate during the winter and flower in the spring.
The soil you need must be quite fertile, although they can also be kept in pots. It is important that the land where it is planted has good drainage to avoid accumulations of water. It is better to place them in shady places, since the sun’s rays weaken the plant.
There are some anemones that have tuber-like roots. This type of anemone must be sown in spring, it cannot be sown in autumn. Before planting it, the roots must be soaked overnight to bury them. This helps them stay moist and gather all the necessary nutrients for germination. The idea depth is between three and four inches. This way we will ensure that it grips the ground well and is not weakened by the wind.
Necessary care
Once we have our anemone planted, the hardest part of caring for it begins. The truth is that you need somewhat demanding maintenance so that it begins to take its first leaves and then its flowers. If we want to have good results, it is convenient to water it regularly and at the same time. In this way the plant will be able to manage its daily water source for its growth activities.
When it is watered it has to be allowed to soak perfectly to the roots. It is preferable that the water is anti-alkaline. If the water comes from the rain, much better. As it grows, some petals and leaves wither. Therefore, they must be eliminated so that the new ones can grow without problems.
If we want to grow the anemone in a greenhouse we will need to have a temperature according to its needs. If the greenhouse is warmer, it will be necessary to wait for winter to sow them. It is important to have good ventilation and that the place is at a temperature around 13 degrees. This plant does not withstand temperatures below zero degrees, so it must be protected from frost.
If we want an optimal development, it must be paid so that it grows better. If it is planted in a fertile soil, it will not be necessary to fertilize since it would cause disease and weaken it.
Anemone uses
It is used for decorate bouquets and bridal bouquet. Its great beauty makes it a whole stylized flower. They are preferably sold when the petals are fully open. If the plant is cut to adorn a bouquet when the flowers are not yet fully open, they will never be able to spread. This will diminish its beauty and have less ornamental value.
Cities like Italy and France are the ones that most use this plant to decorate parks, walks and recreational spaces. These places are ideal for taking good walks and attracting tourists. It is, without a doubt, a fairly colorful plant that anyone who likes something nature will be attracted to it.
Propagation
To propagate the anemones, the tuberous roots must be divided in October. Once we divide them, we plant them in pots as if they were new plants. On the contrary, if we want to grow them from seeds, we will wait until February. They are planted in pots or trays mixing one part of sand and three of seed compost.
We cover the seeds with fine sand and moisten the compost, keeping it always moist and in the shade. The temperature should not be more than 16 degrees. When the seedlings start to grow they should be exposed to strong light, but keeping the temperature low and the compost moist.
I hope you can enjoy your anemone to decorate with its great beauty.
