Almost every garden has a perfect little nook just waiting for the Wood Anemone (*Anemone nemorosa*). If you want to welcome spring with a carpet of white blooms, you just need to give this forest native the right start. Let’s dive into the best timing, where to find your plants, and how to pick the perfect spot.
Planting Wood Anemones in Spring
The Wood Anemone is a bit of a “now you see it, now you don’t” plant. It’s only visible to us until early summer because once it finishes blooming—usually between March and April—the parts above ground completely disappear. Only the rhizome stays tucked away in the soil until it sprouts again the following year. Because of this cycle, the best time to plant them in your garden is while they are blooming or immediately after.
Where to Get Your Plants
While *Anemone nemorosa* is a common wild plant often found in deciduous forests, and isn’t a protected species like some of its cousins, there’s no need to go digging them up from the woods. You can easily find young plants at your local nursery or garden center. Alternatively, if you have a friend with a patch in their garden, they might be happy to share some rhizome cuttings with you in the fall. You can try growing them from seed, too, but be warned: they are “cold germinators” and can be a bit finicky for beginners.
Finding that Perfect Dappled Shade
The ideal location for this woodland beauty mimics the forest floor. In early spring, it needs plenty of light to trigger those blossoms—about two hours of direct sun a day is plenty. Once the flowering is over, it prefers to retreat into the shade. As our plant profile notes, the best spot in your yard is under a deciduous tree or along the edge of summer-green shrubs.
For the soil, aim for these conditions:
- Rich in humus and nutrients
- Slightly acidic to alkaline (pH between 6.5 and 7.5)
- Loose, well-draining, and slightly loamy
- Moderately moist, though it can handle being a bit drier in the summer
How to Plant Your Wood Anemones
When you’re ready to plant, tuck the rhizomes about 2 inches (5 cm) deep and space them about 8 inches (20 cm) apart. Give them a good watering right away. Depending on the size of the plants, you’ll want about 12 to 25 specimens per square yard to get a nice full look.
After that, they are pretty low-maintenance! In the fall, cover them with a thick layer of mulch or fallen leaves if they aren’t already covered by your trees. In early spring, before the new shoots pop up, spread a thin layer of compost. Other than that, the best thing you can do is leave them alone—they hate having their roots disturbed by hoeing or digging. If you want to propagate them, you can carefully dig up and move rhizome pieces in the autumn.
Pro Tip:
Wood Anemones look stunning on their own, but they play very well with others. Try pairing them with Sweet Violets, Primroses, or Liverworts to add pops of color to your white floral carpet.
