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Flower profile

Anemone

Quick facts

Botanical name: Anemone coronaria. In SAF's language of flowers, anemone means fragile.

Anemone at a glance

Meaning
fragile
Colors
  • Red
  • White
  • Blue
  • Purple
  • Pink
Vase life
3-8 days.
Season
Spring in the garden; sold as a cut flower mainly in late winter and spring.
Special care
Choose stems with buds just opening; blooms close in the cold and dark and reopen in light. Keep away from ripening fruit - anemones are highly ethylene-sensitive and petals shatter. Re-cut stems and use flower food; do not mix in a vase with daffodils.
Size
A spring bulb-type flower with a single cup-shaped, daisy-like bloom about 2.5 inches across on a 12-inch stem
Also called
Poppy anemone, Windflower

Pet safety

All parts are mildly poisonous (protoanemonin); sap can irritate skin and ingestion can cause mouth pain and stomach upset. Not on ASPCA's toxic list.

About anemones

A spring bulb-type flower with a single cup-shaped, daisy-like bloom about 2.5 inches across on a 12-inch stem. Each flower has a dark, velvety center. Plants grow 10 to 18 inches tall.

How to make anemones last

  1. Keep them cool until they are in water. Keep your flowers in a cool place until you can get them into a flower food solution.
  2. Fill a clean vase with water and flower food. Use a clean, deep vase and add the flower food from your florist, following the mixing directions on the packet.
  3. Remove leaves below the waterline. Leaves in water promote bacterial growth that can limit water uptake by the flower.
  4. Re-cut the stems. Remove one to two inches with a sharp knife or clippers that will not crush the stems, then place the flowers straight into the vase.
  5. For anemones. Choose stems with buds just opening; blooms close in the cold and dark and reopen in light. Keep away from ripening fruit - anemones are highly ethylene-sensitive and petals shatter. Re-cut stems and use flower food; do not mix in a vase with daffodils.
  6. Keep them in a cool spot. 65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents and ceiling fans.

Care steps from SAF’s flower care tips. More flower care tips →

Questions about anemones

What does the anemone mean?

In the traditional language of flowers, the anemone stands for "fragile".

What colors do anemones come in?

Anemones come in red, white, blue, purple and pink.

How long do anemones last in a vase?

3-8 days. Re-cut the stems, use the flower food from your florist and keep the vase cool and out of direct sun to get the most days.

How do you care for anemones?

Keep anemones cool until they are in water, use a clean vase with flower food, remove any leaves below the waterline, re-cut the stems by one to two inches and keep the vase at 65 to 72 degrees, away from direct sunlight and vents. For anemones: Choose stems with buds just opening; blooms close in the cold and dark and reopen in light. Keep away from ripening fruit - anemones are highly ethylene-sensitive and petals shatter. Re-cut stems and use flower food; do not mix in a vase with daffodils.

Are anemones safe around pets?

All parts are mildly poisonous (protoanemonin); sap can irritate skin and ingestion can cause mouth pain and stomach upset. Not on ASPCA's toxic list.

Where can I buy anemones?

From a local SAF member florist. Enter the recipient's ZIP code on this page to find florists near them.

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