Poppy Anemones For The Spring Garden

 

Poppy Anemones at Duke Gardens in Durham, NC

Windflowers (Anemone coronaria) are native to the Mediterranean region (USDA hardiness zones 7-10). Sometimes called “poppy anemones”, they are in the buttercup plant family (Ranunculaceae). These upright perennials grow from tuberous rhizomes. Their frilly foliage is medium green and is not edible to most critters, including deer. 

Solitary, showy, poppy-like, single flowers, each with 6-8 petals, measure 1.5 to 2.5 inches across. Flowers bloom in mid- to late-spring on stems rising to 10-12 inches high. Flowers are blue, red or white with black centers. Plants go dormant after flowering.

In southern locales, plant these tuberous rhizomes in early spring about 2-3 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart in an organic-rich, sandy, medium moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. In a fall planted bed, spread a 3-inch mulch layer for winter protection which is removed in late winter. Alternatively, plant tubers in pots in fall for overwintering in frost free cool spot such as an unheated greenhouse, sunporch or cold frame; set out the pots in early spring. Spring-planted windflowers bloom in late May-June. In wintery climes (Zones 3-6), they must be dug up in early fall for winter storage. 

Consider windflowers are short-lived and are best treated as annuals. Each spring dig them after flowering, plant summer flowering annuals, and purchase new rhizomes for next spring.

Also called “lilies of the field”, they are not commonly sold at garden centers. Numerous online  bulb emporiums offer them for sale in their fall and winter catalogs. Popular cultivar groups include ‘De Caen’ (mix of single flowers) and ‘St. Brigid’ (mix of double--petalled flowers). Personal favorites include ‘Fokker’ (bright blue ray petals/black dome center) and ‘Sylphide’ (violet pink petals with black dome center). Poppy anemones make excellent cut flowers.

Small Leaved Anise

'Florida Sunshine' anise at Milliken Arboretum in Spartanburg, SC

In recent years there has been lots of interest in the anise (Illicium) shrub group. Anise shrubs (Illicium spp.) are fast growing, evergreen shrubs (USDA zones 7 to 10). They exhibit a multi-stemmed, upright, compact form. Their green foliage  is quite attractive and aromatic, the odor similar to anise spice when crushed. Their shiny, leathery leaves are olive green in color and the 1.5 inch wide flowers are dark red and appear in early spring.

Yellow anise (Illicium parvifolium), aka small anise, is a Southeast U.S. native. Popularity has soared with the introduction of gold leaf cultivars like 'Florida Sunshine' and Banana Appeal®. The cultivar 'Florida Sunshine' grows only 7-8 feet tall. Both cultivars are more tolerant of full day sun and dry soils. Their gold color becomes sharper over the winter months

In the wild, species shrubs eventually grow 10 to 15 feet tall and should be spaced at least 5-6 feet apart in the landscape. Their natural habitat is in the wet, swampy areas or along wooded streams in humus-rich  acidic soil from Florida to Louisiana. However, newer varieties have demonstrated winter hardiness further north into (zone 6) parts of Tennessee, Carolinas, and Virginia.

Illicium grows in partial to full shade, but reportedly will acclimate to full sun if irrigated. The anise shrub world is changing. Watch for new cultivars arriving at local garden centers.

Carolina All-Spice Sweetshrub Or Bubbybush

What's in a name? Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) is one of our finest native shrubs. Its waxy, reddish brown flowers emit an enticing fruity fragrance. The 2" wide flowers bloom starting in late April, and sporadically June through August.

Many gardeners in the southern Appalachians (plant hardiness zone 6 -8) call it “bubbybush” or “sweet bubby”. In the 1800's, long before deodorants, women used the fragrant flower as a perfume to mask body odor. They would hide the tough, almost indestructible flowers under their dresses, in their pockets, even pin them on their clothes.

Sweet shrub is easy to grow. Plant in fertile, well-drained garden soil and in sunny to partly shaded landscape. It flowers best in full sun and stay dense and tight. The beautiful deep green leaves measure 5-6" long, ovate, and exhibit a nice yellow fall color and persist into November. The large, 'urn-shaped' fruits mature in October.

The cultivar ‘Athens’ has yellow fragrant flowers. New Asian/American hybrids from the North Carolina State University’s plant breeding program are ‘Hartledge Wine’ (red, non-fragrant flowers) and most recent introduction ‘Venus’ (creamy white, fragrant flowers).