RHS Garden Rosemoor

Plant of the Month: March

Anemone x lipsiensis 'Pallida' @ Rosemoor

Large groups of this pretty plant with its pale yellow flowers and delicate, lacy foliage have naturalised in the Cherry Garden, where the dappled shade provides just the right conditions for it to thrive.

Anemone

Anemone is a genus of approximately 120 species of perennials found mostly in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere.

They can be divided into three groups: those from woodland and alpine pastures which flower in spring; those from the Mediterranean or central Asia where the summers are hot which flower in spring or early summer; and the larger herbaceous species which flower from late summer to autumn.

The roots may be rhizomes, tubers, fleshy or fibrous. Most anemones produce basal and stem leaves. The basal leaves are rounded to oval in outline but are finely divided, and mid- or dark-green in colour. Smaller leaves are often produced in a whorl beneath the flowers.

Anemones are grown for their flowers, which are bowl-shaped, with prominent, central stamens.

The name anemone is often said to come from the Greek word anemos meaning 'wind'. However, it is more likely to be a corrupted Greek word, of Semitic origin, referring to the lament for slain Adonis or Naaman, whose blood produced the red A. coronaria.

Anemone x lipsiensis

This vigorous hybrid between A. nemorosa and A. ranunculoides has brown rhizomes and rounded, mid-green leaves, 5-8cm (2-3in) long, which are three-palmate and have deep lobes.

Anemone x lipsiensis 'Pallida'

In spring, this cultivar has single, creamy yellow flowers with yellow stamens, which have six to eight tepals and is 1.5-2cm (0.5-0.75in) across. The foliage is dark green.

This plant is ideal for a woodland or rock garden.

AGM

The RHS Rock Garden Plant Trials Subcommittee awarded Anemone x lipsiensis ‘Pallida’ an Award of Garden Merit.

Cultivation

Anemone x lipsiensis 'Pallida' should be grown in moist but well-drained, humus-rich, soil in partial shade. Drier conditions are tolerated in summer when the plant is dormant.

Anemones are prone to leaf eelworms, leaf spot, powdery mildew, damage from slugs and snails and occasionally anemone smut.

Propagation

Seed can be sown as soon as ripe in containers in a cold frame, though germination may be slow and poor.

The easiest and most reliable method for propagation is to separate the rhizomes in spring.