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The flower belongs to the ranunculus family anemone genus (includes more than 150 species). Some flower growers and summer residents know this flower under the name “daughter of the winds.” So it was called by the ancient Greeks.
The perennial anemone Blanda has become a permanent resident of most summer cottages. The flowering period begins in late April-early May and lasts approximately three weeks. The Blanda flower is considered mountainous and naturally grows in the Caucasus, the Balkans, and Asia Minor. This plant is photophilous and when choosing a site for planting and caring for a plant, preference is given to the southern, bright sides. Anemone Blanda is considered a drought-resistant plant and therefore tolerates a period of temporary lack of water better than its excess.
The usual soil of Blanda’s anemones is natural moist calcareous soil. The root system of the plant is represented by a tuberous rhizome of an indefinite shape. Stems 14-21 cm high grow from buds located in the upper part of the rhizome. An anemone flower in the form of a poppy with a diameter of 3-3,5 cm is formed at the end of each stem. Bushes of flowers look elegant and airy.
The Bland anemone is mainly grown with blue-violet petals. However, there are several dozen varieties with flowers of other shades:
- Anemone Blue – spring flowering variety, the flowers of which have a deep blue color (as in the photo);
- Anemone Blanda-Mix – a mixture of flowering plants that have flowers of different colors: pink, blue, blue, white. It does not grow above 25-30 cm. The active flowering period is the end of March-beginning of June. If the tubers are planted with an interval of 10-15 days, then the long and spectacular flowering of the plant will last. The Blanda-Mix anemone variety is most often chosen to decorate flower beds and flower beds. Thanks to the bright and rich colors of flowers (as in the photo), the flower bed can be decorated without planting other plants. To create a decorative flowering “pillow”, up to 49 roots or bulbs of Bland’s anemones are planted per square meter;
- Anemona Blue Shade is the lowest growing anemone variety (not higher than 10-15 cm). elegant blue flowers (see photo) elegantly decorate spring lawns.
Features of growing anemones
Anemone Blanda is one of the few plants that grow well both in the country and in the apartment. Depending on the place of cultivation, the nuances of planting and caring for the plant are determined.
Choice of land and soil
If you want to breed anemones in the country, you must first of all choose a suitable place.
The flower does not tolerate a lack of lighting, therefore, for planting and caring for it, it is advisable to select an area that is well lit or slightly shaded. Only with the right amount of sunlight Blanda is able to bloom luxuriantly and for a long time.
There is a special requirement for land. The soil should be loose, breathable. A neutral or alkaline soil is preferable, but in no case acidic (pH 5-8 is suitable). To give the soil airiness, sand can be added to the ground. If it is necessary to lower the level of acidity, wood ash is used. To do this, the soil around the bushes is sprinkled with ash. This must be taken into account when planting anemones or during their growth.
When choosing a landing site, you need to pay attention to soil moisture. Since the Blanda anemone does not like extremes: an excess of moisture will lead to rotting of the rhizome, and from a lack of water, the plant stops blooming and can shed its foliage. Therefore, before planting an anemone under the bushes, you need to make sure that this area is not flooded in the spring with cold melt water.
Ways to breed Bland’s anemones
For propagation of flowers, you can use seeds or division of the rhizome.
- Breeding anemones Blanda seeds usually causes problems. And this has nothing to do with the skills of the summer resident. It’s just that plants are distinguished by poor seed germination – about 25%. Only freshly harvested seeds should be sown. For sowing, an area in the shade is allocated. The soil is specially loosened and fertilized. Anemone seeds should not be sunk too much into the ground, as there is a risk that they will not germinate. At this stage, it is especially necessary to observe soil moisture, avoiding water stagnation. Seeds germinate next year, in spring.
- An easier way to breed Bland’s anemones – division of the rhizome. It is necessary to carry out such an operation when the flower has a dormant period – in July-August. The root is carefully dug up and parts with buds are separated from it. A piece of anemone tuber is buried in a specially prepared hole. Planting depth – 3-5 cm. It should be borne in mind that Blanda takes root in a new place for a long time. When preparing the soil, carefully select old rhizomes, as the anemone root is very fragile and easily damaged.
Breeding the Anemone Blanda Shades flower is not associated with great difficulties or financial costs, therefore it is available to many summer residents and flower growers.
Care of the plant
Anemone Blanda is considered an unpretentious plant that does not require much attention. The main requirement for planting and care is to control the level of soil moisture. In dry areas, it is advisable to cover the soil around the planting with peat mulch or foliage of trees (linden, maple, apple tree). This technique makes it difficult for moisture to evaporate from the soil and its compaction. Mulch also keeps weeds from growing. The optimal layer of mulch is 3-5 cm.
If the area does not suffer from a lack of water, then selected areas located on a hill. In such cases, it is also important to ensure good soil drainage.
After the end of the growing season in mid-summer, the leaves of the Bland anemone turn yellow and die off. The flower is considered frost-resistant and, if the winters are not severe, then the roots can not be dug up, but left for the winter. In order not to accidentally damage them, it is recommended to fence or mark the area with anemones in some way. If the winters are cold, then the plant is additionally covered – with a pillow of leaves or spunbond.
When planting and caring for Blanda’s anemone at home, it should be borne in mind that the plant must be provided with an abundance of diffused light. Leaving the flower in direct sunlight is highly undesirable.
It is desirable to fertilize the anemone during the flowering period. The most suitable option is the use of complex mineral fertilizers. Excess feeding can adversely affect the growth of a flower, therefore, with top dressing, the measure must be observed.
Plant diseases and pests
Bland’s flower is resistant to diseases, and thanks to the poisonous juice, pests bypass the plant.
There are several diseases that can damage the anemone:
- nematodes (microscopic phytohelminths) – gnaw through leaves, roots. Outwardly, this manifests itself in the appearance of yellowish-brown spots. You can destroy the pest by spraying the bush with a solution of Decaris (tablet per liter of water). Preventive measures include: the exclusion of watering flowers from above and in cool weather. If the bushes are severely affected, then the diseased anemones are dug up and burned. The soil in the area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbdiseased flowers must be replaced;
- aphids feed on plant juices and Blanda weakens. The leaves curl, the buds fall off. The flower withers and becomes susceptible to other diseases. Also, aphids provoke the development of fungal diseases in the plant. With the defeat of several bushes, you can use chemicals: Karbofoks, Fufanon. You can also spray Bland’s flowers with decoctions of wormwood, tansy. Prevention – mulching the soil, fighting ants that spread aphids;
- the slugs eat the leaves, the anemone stems and the plant dies. If there are few slugs, then you can simply collect them and take them out of the area. Prevention – mulching the soil around the flowers, thorough weeding and loosening the soil.
Common preventive measures include regular weeding, loosening the soil, removing damaged foliage, and burning diseased plants.
How to combine anemone with other flowers
This delicately flowering perennial plant is popular not only among summer residents, but also among landscape designers. A mixture of Anemone Bland can be attributed to universal colors, as it looks harmoniously on an alpine hill, in rockeries. Low-growing flowers are used to decorate mixborders. Blanda Blue anemones can be stylishly decorated with stone paths. These bushes of different colors look great in the company of fruit trees and other ornamental shrubs (see photo).
The best companions for spring anemones are primroses, peonies, primroses, tulips or daffodils.
Anemone Blanda is an exceptionally delicate flower, which in the spring pleases summer residents with bright blooms. It is enough to give him a minimum of attention, and he will bloom gratefully on the site for many years.