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Anemone Flowers
The lovely garden amaryllis (Hippeastrum vittatum, A. Belladonna, and A. reginae and their hybrids), are members of Amaryllidaceae. Native to South America and South Africa, many amaryllis grown today are hybrids of native varieties and are highly prized for their large flowers. The lilylike or bell shaped flowers are red, pink, white, and combinations of these colors.
The showy horticultural forms are divided into three types: the early spring group, the bulbous group of spring and early summer, and the tall Oriental forms of late summer and fall.
The Early Spring Group: Anemone blanda, the bulbous Greek windflower, grows about four inches high with finely cut leaves and blue, pink or white daisy like flowers. They bloom in early spring and are excellent subjects for the rock garden or locations in light deciduous shade. Foliage disappears in early summer. Plant them in large colonies near other small spring bulbs like scilla and chionodoxa. Anemone Pulsatilla, the true pasque flower of Eurasia, has very silky hairs 3/4 to one inch long. Its flowers are blue to red purple, 11/2 to 21/2 inches across and bloom in early April. Many cultivars and varieties are known, including the white A. P. cv. 'Alba'. This pulsatilla group thrives best in well- drained soil, or stony places in some shade.
The Bulbous Group: The bulbous group of anemones blooms almost whenever desired, depending on the culture and the time the corms are planted. In sections where it is too cold in winter, corms should be cured or ripened after the flowering period by being lifted from the ground to dry and store. If left in the ground to cure they must be protected against excess moisture; the corms cannot stand frost. The corms are of unusual structure, some resembling a three-cornered horn.
Once the leaf tip emerges from the center of the bulb, and after the bloom stem has cleared the scales, it is definite that roots are feeding the bulb and it is time to apply more water to the soil regularly, keeping it moist but not soggy.
However, to start the foliage into full growth before the bloom and bud appear may cause the bud to rot or abort and there can be a healthy set of leaves growing and no evidence of a bloom coming. It is wise not to water the bulb until the bloom bud shows, regardless of how promising the foliage looks.
Full chrysanthemum: Anemone x. fulgens, the scarlet windflower, resembles a scarlet daisy having a black center. It can be forced like A. coronaria, the poppy-flowered anemone, has large flowers in red, white and indigo. Popular controlled varieties with single blooms include DeCaen, St. Brigid and Victoria Giant. Many double forms are also to be had in a variety of colors, although the scarlet ones are predominant. One cultivar known as Anemone coronaria cv. `Chrysanthemiflora' is a seedling produced in 1848, looking much like a full chrysanthemum; Anemone x fulgens, the scarlet windflower, resembles a scarlet daisy having a black center. It can be forced like A. coronaria.
Full sunlight is best fat sturdiness, and a temperature between 55 60F. (12.78 and 15.56C.) is best. Tie bloom stem loosely to a stake to prevent is being broken. The blooms can be cut and us as cut flowers.
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