Anemone blanda 'Blue Shades'
Anemone blanda ‘Blue Shades’ is a low Grecian windflower grown from small tubers. It stands out for early blue daisy‑like blooms that naturalize under deciduous trees and shrubs. It performs best in humus‑rich, well‑drained soil with sun in spring and light shade later. Plants are hardy in much of North America and go dormant soon after flowering. Clumps expand slowly from self‑sown seed and offsets.
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Grecian windflower cultivar
- Height × spread: 4–8 in (10–20 cm) × 6–9 in (15–23 cm)
- Bloom window: early spring
- Color & flower form: single daisy‑like flowers in blue shades
- Fragrance: 0 none
- USDA hardiness: zones 5–8
- Breeder / Year / Origin: unknown, unknown, southeastern Europe to Turkey (species native range)
- Pet safety: avoid
How it differs
- Much shorter and earlier than other windflowers.
- Forms carpets for naturalizing beneath deciduous canopies.
- Handles partial shade better than many A. coronaria strains.
- Leaves disappear cleanly after bloom.
Strengths
- Very early color when few perennials are in flower.
- Fits rock gardens, pathways, and underplantings.
- Deer and rabbit tolerance commonly noted.
- Reliable in cold winters within its hardiness range.
Care in one minute
- Site with sun in spring and light shade thereafter.
- Soil: humus‑rich, well‑drained loam; neutral to slightly alkaline.
- Water: modest moisture during growth; keep dry in summer dormancy.
- Planting: pre‑soak tubers; plant 2 to 3 in deep and 3 to 4 in apart.
- Feeding: light compost or bulb food at emergence.
Watch‑outs
- Declines in poorly drained or waterlogged soils.
- May be slow to establish from small tubers.
- Dormant foliage leaves gaps after bloom; plan companions.
Best uses (tags)
borders, groundcover, naturalizing, containers, shade‑tolerant, pollinators
Provenance note
The species is native to southeastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Turkey; ‘Blue Shades’ is a selected seed strain with variable blue tones.
References
- Missouri Botanical Garden – Anemone blanda ‘Blue Shades’ Plant Finder
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox – Anemone blanda
Written by: Your Flowers Guide editorial team
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