Anemone coronaria Lord Lieutenant

Anemone coronaria Lord Lieutenant is a very beautiful variety of florist's anemone with double flowers, belonging to the St Brigid series. It blooms in spring with large pompom-like flowers, with an intense celestial colour, a fairly deep blue-lilac, darkened by a very becoming black heart. This beautiful tuberous plant with a slightly old-fashioned charm blooms in spring, accompanying white, pale pink or yellow flowers in flower beds, on the patio or balcony, in sunny or semi-shaded positions and in well-drained soil.

An upright perennial bulbous plant, Anemone coronaria is native to the Mediterranean basin to Western Asia. Very easy to grow and quite hardy, it will ideally be placed in the sun, although it also thrives in semi-shade where its shimmering colours will work wonders! From the tuberous stump of this Anemone coronaria Lord Lieutenant, one or more slightly hairy flower stems, 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16in) long, each ending in a very double flower, 6 to 8 cm (2 to 3in) in diameter, under which three long and narrow leaves form a toothed collar. Its basal foliage, in a rosette, is deciduous. It consists of dark green, deeply cut leaves, measuring 5 to 15 cm (2 to 6in) long. From April to May, flowers of a remarkable uniform lilac blue and with a crown of black stamens appear. The petal colour tends to fade towards the end of flowering. Once faded, the flower produces fruits in achenes and can thus naturalise itself in the garden. Then the plant disappears, but will reappear the following spring if the soil remains dry enough in winter, and this for about 5 years.

Anemones are quite easy to establish, they require minimal maintenance, a sunny or partially shaded position suits them, as well as a light and well-drained soil. They can be planted in a flower bed, a rock garden, in borders, flower beds or mixed borders. They are also cultivated in pots and planters on the patio, balcony or window sill. They can be associated with other perennial plants (Potentilla 'Gibson's Scarlet', Aruncus dioicus 'Kneiffii', Lupin 'Gallery Red', Astilbe arendsii 'Fanal', lobelia speciosa 'Fan Burgundy'), tulip bulbs, daffodils, narcissus, rock plants, as well as small-growing shrubs (Weigela Dwarf Red 'Courtanin', Japanese Quince speciosa 'Hot Fire', Buddleia 'White Chip').

This anemone is the most widespread among florists, due to its excellent cut flower performance, its aesthetics and its attractive colours. So take advantage of the dazzling flowering of this Anemone Lord Lieutenant to create sumptuous multicoloured bouquets, by picking the flowers as soon as they open!