Dubravnaya anemone: popular varieties, planting and care rules

Anemone (oak anemone) is considered one of the most beautiful wild-growing plants, which immediately in spring begins to bloom and delight with its unusual appearance... This flower is popular with gardeners not only because of its decorative, medicinal properties, but also unpretentious cultivation. Unfortunately, this plant is on the verge of extinction, it is listed in the Red Book.

The oak anemone (anemone) is a herbaceous plant that usually reaches a height of no more than 30 cm. The root system of this flower is fibrous, so it quickly grows in areas and takes on the appearance of a snow-white carpet. Wild plants of this species can most often be found in western Europe, in the European part of Russia and in the Mediterranean. Anemone prefers to grow in deciduous forests, where there are many shaded areas and loose fertile soil. Since the plant usually grows in groups, it forms extensive thickets in areas.

Anemone is a perennial flower that blooms annually for 40-50 years. Its reproduction occurs both by seeds and by root shoots. The oak anemone has an erect stem, on which only one flower of pink, pale purple or white is formed. The flower consists of 6 petals, due to the absence of sepals, they begin to play at the slightest gust of wind. The flowering period of the anemone begins in April and lasts about one month; in July, the plant forms a fruit in the form of a box with numerous black seeds.

Anemone is also considered a medicinal plant, which is known for the following healing properties:

• bactericidal;
• pain reliever;
• antifungal;
• diaphoretic;
• expectorant;
• sedative.

It should be remembered that this wild plant is poisonous, therefore, all preparations, decoctions and infusions based on it can be used only after consultation with doctors.

The main advantages of growing oak anemone include the fact that it has high frost resistance and perfectly withstands temperatures down to -30C. The only thing is that when planting a plant in open ground, it is necessary to mulch the soil for the winter. This will protect the flower from freezing in the winter with little snow. In addition, the anemone is unpretentious to care for, it is enough to plant it in an area with light, slightly acidic soil and sometimes water it (usually the plant has enough natural moisture in the form of rain and melting snow).

As for the use of a flower in the landscape design of a summer cottage, it is considered an original decoration of any flower bed. The plant looks especially gorgeous in compositions with veronicastrum, aconite, aster and ornamental herbs. However, before planting an anemone in the garden, you need to remember about its active growth and choose the right "neighbors".

To date, in the wild, the oak anemone is under the threat of complete extinction, so you cannot dig its plantings in a forest with a rhizome in order to plant it in your country house.You can decorate the site with this flower in another way - buy seeds in the store and plant it. Anemone is represented by various species, since breeders have successfully managed to breed unusual varieties with double and simple flowers in light pink, blue and white colors. The best plant varieties include the following.

• Rosea. It is an abundantly flowering variety with small flowers and bright pink color.

• Blue Ice. This is a terry anemone with large snow-white flowers and a blue "eye".

• Robinsoniana... It is considered one of the most common plant varieties, which is often chosen for planting in summer cottages. It is distinguished by simple large purple flowers.

• Royal Blue. An amazingly beautiful variety with beautiful blue flowers. Resistant to disease and frost.

• Alba Plena. This type of anemone is a worthy decoration for any garden. Small snow-white flowers are originally combined in decorative compositions with other perennial plants.

• Kentish Pink. A very delicate flower with large pink flowers. The inflorescence of this variety is simple.

• Blue beauty... This anemone has leaves with a slight bronze tint, flowers are large, blue in color.

In addition, lovers of unusual garden wonders can purchase such amazing varieties as Monstrosa, Viridiformis, Virescens. Unlike common varieties of the plant, these flowers have exotic green buds. Since the anemone is represented by a huge variety, when choosing a particular variety, it is important to take into account its growing conditions and certain requirements for care.

Anemone is great for growing those gardeners who prefer to decorate their site in a natural style. It can be planted outdoors under deciduous trees and shrubs, allowing it to grow. If you choose a place for this flower among the lawn grass or on the lawn, then it is important to consider that mowing of green spaces can be performed only after the leaves die off. Otherwise, you can weaken the rhizome of the plant, which in the future will lead to its death.

Planting a flower is recommended to a depth of no more than 10 cm, it is advisable to do this at the end of August, when the ground part of the perennial has died out. Due to the fact that the oak anemone is not afraid of cold weather, it can be planted in areas with open ground. In this case, shelters are not required for wintering. You need to start planting a plant with the preparation of seeds, purchasing high-quality seed in specialized stores (this will ensure a high percentage of seedlings).

Then you need to choose the right place for sowing. If it is performed in the spring, then it is advisable to give preference to areas well-lit by the sun, while in the summer it is best to choose shaded areas, along the edges of small bushes or under the canopy of young trees. Anemone loves fertile and loose soil, with moderate moisture, excluding stagnant water. The flower also grows well in areas where the soil is acidic, since in the wild it can often be found in swampy areas.

At the same time, some plant varieties are more demanding to grow and they need to be sown only in soil with a neutral reaction.

When decorating a garden bed, it is necessary to select perennial neighbors such as early primroses, liverwort, variegated primroses and Pushkinia.In this combination, plants will help create an unusual landscape design.

As for the planting process itself, it is performed as follows.

• First, you should dig a small hole up to 30 cm in diameter and no more than 15 cm deep. Then pour a mixture of wood ash and humus on its bottom.
• Next, you need to carefully lay the rhizome of the plant, cover it with fertile soil and water it.
• Planting ends with mulching of the trunk circle. This will help to keep moisture in the soil in the future. If the disembarkation occurs in the fall, then the anemone is additionally covered with spruce branches.

Anemone is not demanding to care for, but it, like any other plant, needs some attention. If the gardener has chosen the right place for planting it, then over time the plant will take root and will delight in early spring with its charming color, recalling the awakening of nature from hibernation. Anemone does not need additional watering, it should be carried out only if it is spring without rains or during a drought in summer.

Cracking of the soil surface should not be allowed, otherwise the plant will die. Mulching, which must be performed immediately after planting a flower, using dry leaves of fruit trees, will also help to save you from the extra hassle of watering.

To grow a healthy and beautiful plant, do not forget about fertilizing.

Feeding is usually carried out in early spring with the appearance of the first foliage on the plant and in early summer, when the flower goes into a state of dormancy.

It is undesirable to weed the bushes of the oak tree anemone, since its rhizomes are located very close to the surface of the earth. You can only loosen the soil immediately after rain, removing large weeds that interfere with the growth of the flower. Anemone is characterized by high resistance to frost, since flower buds are laid on its rhizomes in summer and by autumn they are fully formed. If the winter is too frosty, then there is a risk that these buds may die and flowering will be very poor.

To protect flower buds and the entire root system of a flower from severe frosts will help falling asleep with a layer of humus and peat, but it should not exceed 5 cm. In addition, leaves fallen from trees can be placed on top. In winter, in the area where the perennial grows, you should try to save as many snowdrifts.

To date, gardeners use vegetative methods to propagate the oak tree anemone. They are simple to perform and are suitable even for novice gardeners. The most common plant propagation methods include the following.

• With the help of segments of rhizomes. To do this, you must first cut the roots into small pieces, leaving several buds on them. The procedure is best carried out in July or late August, when the ground green of the flower has died out. The disembarkation is carried out in a previously prepared area, in pits up to 10 cm deep.

• By dividing the bush. This is a very simple way to reproduce anemones, as it occurs by digging out the rhizomes and dividing them into parts. Usually, the division is performed at the end of July, when there are still a few leaves on the bushes. The divided roots should not be too deep in the soil, a depth of 10 cm is well suited. It is important to pay attention to the fact that the root collar is placed exactly at the level of the soil. The perennial will quickly take root and the next season will be able to please with fresh foliage and flower stalks.

Besides, some gardeners propagate the plant with seeds, pre-choosing a permanent place on the site for sowing them. This should be done immediately after collecting the seed, since the seeds are very small, attached to a fluffy umbrella and can scatter on their own in a gust of wind.

Reproduction of anemones and seedlings is no less popular. To grow it, it is necessary to sow 5-7 seeds in peat pots. Since germination can be poor, usually several seeds germinate, of which only 2 plants need to be left. Peat pots are placed in a cool place for a couple of months and wait for the first leaves to appear on the stems after sprouting. Then you can transplant future flowers to open ground, choosing the right place.

The oak anemone is highly resistant to diseases and harmful insects, but sometimes problems can occur with growing a plant in summer cottages. So, for example, due to high humidity in the soil, the anemone can be affected by slugs. In order to prevent the death of the flower, it is recommended to carry out pest control in a timely manner. In this case, containers filled with chlorinated water are placed next to the plants - they will scare away slugs.

Sometimes perennial bushes are affected nematode. This usually happens when planting in areas with contaminated soil. This disease is manifested by a change in the shape of the stems and leaves, after which the flower begins to fade. If such a disease manifests itself, it is recommended to immediately remove diseased plants from the site and not plant an anemone on it for several years.

For more information on varieties and care features, see below.