Anemone perennials are fast growers, and while we love to see them fill out a garden bed, there’s a catch: as they get bigger, they often start producing fewer flowers. If your plants are looking a little lazy in the bloom department, it’s time to grab your shovel and divide those roots. The reward? Even more anemones and a massive boost in flowers. Honestly, who could say no to that?
Which Anemones Should You Divide?
Anemones come in tons of varieties, but they generally fall into two camps: spring bloomers and fall bloomers. The spring-blooming types are often grown from bulbs (tubers) and aren’t always winter-hardy. The fall bloomers, on the other hand, grow as hardy, long-lived perennials. These are the ones that need a little “tough love” via division every few years to stay healthy and vibrant.
The Best Timing for Success
You’ve got two main windows for dividing anemones: spring and fall. If you choose fall, your new “baby” anemones will need a little extra TLC—they’ll have to spend the winter in pots indoors or in a sheltered spot. Even though the mother plant is hardy, the new divisions won’t have enough time to establish deep roots before the first frost hits. You can then plant them out in the garden once spring arrives. If you divide in the spring, you can move them straight to their new spot in the yard, as long as the ground isn’t frozen.
Fun Fact:
The name “Anemone” comes from the Greek word for wind. That’s exactly why you’ll often hear these beauties referred to as “Windflowers.”
How to Divide Your Perennials
Whether you’re dividing to get more plants for free or just to jump-start their blooming power, the process is the same:
- Use a garden fork to dig deep all the way around the plant.
- Gently loosen the roots.
- Try your best not to damage the main taproots.
- Lift the plant carefully out of the soil.
- Use a sharp spade to cut root sections that have at least 4–5 “eyes” (growth buds).
- Pot them up (if it’s fall).
- Plant them in their new permanent homes (if it’s spring).
- Lightly tamp down the soil and give them a good drink of water.
Pro Tip:
Don’t be afraid to plant one of the new divisions right back where the mother plant used to be. Young plants often thrive in that exact spot, picking up right where the “mom” left off with a gorgeous bloom season.
Other Ways to Grow Your Collection
If your windflower is still a bit too small to divide, it’s better to wait a year or two. But don’t worry—you don’t have to wait that long to get more plants! The anemone family is pretty easy to propagate in other ways:
- Sowing seeds
- Taking stem cuttings
- Using root cuttings or separating runners (offsets)
