Appearance

Appearance

A mound of finely divided leaves sends up single flowers on clear stems. Garden plants offer red, white, pink, purple, and blue shades, often with a dark center.

Growth form

It is a tuberous perennial, usually about 10–18 in (25–46 cm) tall.

Flowering time

In much of the United States it is grown for spring bloom, with timing shifted by winter climate and planting method.

Fruit

After flowering, it makes a clustered head of small, dry achenes.

Look-alikes

Persian buttercupRanunculus asiaticus

Common garden forms of Persian buttercup usually have many thin, overlapping petals and a rose-like flower. Single poppy anemones have one broad ring of petal-like sepals around a conspicuous dark center.

Why they get mixed up · Both are colorful, cool-season tuberous plants sold for containers and cut flowers.

Grecian windflowerAnemonoides blanda

Grecian windflower is only about 4–6 in (10–15 cm) tall and spreads into low clumps with smaller flowers. Poppy anemone reaches about 10–18 in (25–46 cm) and bears larger flowers on taller stems.

Why they get mixed up · Both are spring-blooming tuberous anemone relatives.

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• cutting gardens
• containers
• sunny borders

Range

It is native from the Mediterranean region east to western and southwestern Iran. In the United States it is grown as an ornamental rather than treated as a native wildflower.

Preferred conditions

It grows best in full sun to part shade with moist but well-drained soil. It is suited to hardiness zones 7–10 and handles summer drought better than wet soil during dormancy.

Growing it

Propagation

It can be raised from seed or divided from its underground tubers.

Toxicity

Fresh sap can irritate skin, and eating the plant can irritate the mouth and stomach.

Name and classification

Varieties and forms

De Caen Group is widely sold for bold single flowers, while St Brigid Group includes semi-double and double forms. Garden varieties vary greatly in color and flower fullness.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

NENot Evaluated·Not yet assessed