How to Plant Anemone Bulbs/Corms - 'St Brigid' and 'De caen' varieties.

Anemone bulbs are easy to plant. We look at the best way to plant both the 'St Brigid' and 'De caen' varieties. And these are one bulb that is planted with the pointy end facing down.
You can grow both types in containers or in the garden, they need to be planted in early winter and will flower freely from spring to summer.
You can deadhead them to promote a second flush of flowers. Both varieties make good cut flowers, with some be single flowers and some doubles.
If sowing directly into the garden, prepare the soil before planting by weeding well, dig in some compost and plant the same way as we show for containers.
Watch out for snails and slugs on the young seedlings.
You can also use Anemones as cut flowers, make sure you pick them when they around 50% open, as they last longer in a vase that way.
After Care
Do you need to dig the bulbs each year ?
If its well drained soil, and a temperate climates they survive well. Very wet soils and cold winters will rot the bulbs, so in those zones, dig them after the foliage dies back, let them dry and store them in a cool dry place over winter.

[@MarkRaymondLuce]

Very clear and precise instructions - and it was very helpful that you posted how they look five days after germination when the break through the soil and when the foliage process takes place - many if not most gardening videos do not show this important development of the flower planting process - this is especially helpful when one has a large flower garden with many varieties of flowers and recognizing their foliage when they first appear breaking through the earth is very helpful; thank you!

[@nancyramos867]

Thank You for now I know how to plant the Anemone bulbs can’t hardly wait until Spring to see these beauties bloom.. For I will be donating them to the Berry Street Community Garden.

[@Orchidomania]

Straight forward and clear ✌💚

[@grahamthomas1429]

another master class thanks for your time 🐝🐞👍👍👍

[@deborahearles9038]

I am going to plant my first group tomorrow in North Carolina thanks for your information

[@justinx3132]

Great video! Easy to follow! Thank you for taking the time to make it :)

[@johnnyAGardening]

Thanks Justin, its nice to kown it was useful.

[@thomasdavidbassett483]

That was fantastic. I take it that was all from the bulbs you planted.

[@johnnyAGardening]

Yes all from those bulbs.

[@droy333]

Nice work yet again!

[@johnnyAGardening]

Thanks Troy, we did this one from seeds right through to flowering. Perhaps could have waited another two weeks until more were in flower. However it does show the process. Ours are all going into the ground, beneath a Japanese Maple for next year.

[@droy333]

I love it when people wait long enough to show the result. Whether it be a flower or fruit/veg/etc. I'm currently having fun cleaning passionfruit seeds. You may know the answer to this, I cleaned some seeds about 3-4 months ago, planted 8 seeds, 3 sprouted then I accidentally killed them. Anyway, I still had the seeds I cleaned from back then in a dry dark place. I've sowed those but its been a couple of weeks. Nearly everything else I've sowed has popped up (pumpkin, radish, cucumber, zucchini, tomatos, silverbeet) and is doing well. Hence me cleaning seeds again figuring they've gone bad. Do regular seeds taken from fruit keep or is there something that needs to be done before they will keep?

[@FloriferousGarden]

I love these varieties. Thank you very much for sharing!

[@johnnyAGardening]

Thanks for that, they are very easy, colourful and we use them as cut flowers as well.

[@FloriferousGarden]

john allman they are gorgeous! May I include your video as a link on my website www.floriferous-garden.com ?

[@johnnyAGardening]

Certainly, let me know which page it is on..

[@FloriferousGarden]

john allman www.floriferous-garden.com/plants/anemone/ as a video on growing anemones . Would that be ok for you?

[@johnnyAGardening]

Should be fine. Don't even need the byline if you don't want it.

[@rogerbower1037]

Surprisingly helpful.. Well done whoever she is ! Would like to meet you....

[@junaidfaiz]

Very nice explainition.

[@johnnyAGardening]

Thanks for that, hope it helps... Where do you garden ?

[@keithdyson9016]

Hello from the UK. The instructions on the bax I bought said to plant pointy side UP. Possible explanation is the bulbs should be inverted if planting in the Antipodes.

[@johnnyAGardening]

Actually these are a bulb that can be planted with the pointy end either up or down. Or just spread them over the surface.....

[@christiansmith6766]

I'm planting them again this year. They real dried out real quick last year in my pot in June and they didn't last very long. But what I saw last was amazing! Absolutely gorgeous flowers! How many pots for 75 corms tho? So a beautiful flower

[@johnnyAGardening]

Space them at around 4 inches (10cm) apart. You can go closer if you want a mass display, maybe 1/2 this, no closer.

[@liudmilakiseleva9118]

I am a new gardener, last year I have made a mistake with anemones, now I know how to do it right. Thank you. Now I live in Seattle, there are a lot of rain and I am afraid the bulbs might get rotten. If I plant the bulbs (tulips too) in containers and put them in glass house - should I water them or leave them dry till spring? Thank you.

[@johnnyAGardening]

Dryish, a little moisture only, so the soil does not desicate. (This means it drys so much that it starts to shrink in the containers) So a little water, just keep the soil slightly moist.

[@liudmilakiseleva9118]

john allman Thank you

[@christiansmith6766]

Thanks it's a bit late but i have a pack of 75 anemones that need planting.

[@johnnyAGardening]

Most likely better lat than not planting at all. Another 12 months in storage could be problematical. As a note, a few of our bulbs escaped into the lawn (we dropped them) and they seem to have found a home, they have flowered for two years in a row.....

[@yvonnejohnson1004]

So have I but I’m hoping to plant them in a pot after I’ve soaked them first. I’ve bought both of these two varieties from the Netherlands. Unfortunately I broke my leg three years ago and it didn’t heal, I can’t walk so I can’t reach my borders now.. it was my favourite hobby so it’s frustrating. I loved watching your video and I’d never thought of growing them in a pot. I’ll be able to do that as I’m now a patio pot gardener. Thank you so much…

[@horseystars52]

I have my first year flowers of de caen but they are very short stems. They were planted outdoors in the UK in late October in an organic walled garden and mulched after the green had come up. Any ideas?

[@johnnyAGardening]

Assuming the soil was good, Cold and or humid conditions can cause stunted growth. Some are naturally short stemmed. Maybe don't use the mulch, or at least not to much of it.

[@horseystars52]

johnny A Thank you. They went through snow and then 20 degree sunshine. Will see how the rest fair. Soil is chalky alkaline.

[@amythornton7263]

So is it better to plant them in early spring in the UK? I'm hoping to put mine in pots and we don't have a greenhouse or any protection outdoors for when it's cold..or ridiculously wet! Would really appreciate your advice, very helpful video.

[@johnnyAGardening]

We would plant them in early spring, and make sure drainage is good in the pots. If it's really wet, you could put the pots under cover, or put a cover over the pot until. Anemones should be fine once they start to grow, as long as the bulbs do not get too wet when dormant. We do this with Fritillaria Imperialis and it works well.

[@amythornton7263]

@@johnnyAGardening Thank you so much..will bulbs be ok for that long (I just got them a few weeks ago)? Also do you know if ranunculus would be ok for the exact same method? I have the corms already as well! Really appreciate your help and getting back to me so quickly! Amy

[@johnnyAGardening]

@@amythornton7263 We would do the same, just good drainage, and as much protection as possible.

[@amythornton7263]

@@johnnyAGardening Super! And the bulbs will be ok? Is there a good way to store them? Seriously, thank you so much Johnny

[@johnnyAGardening]

@@amythornton7263 You can store in a cool dry dark position. They need to be dry and have some air flow.

[@hannablom5803]

This was my first year trying anemones (de Caen) so I don't know if they will survive the winter outdoors- but at least some of them came up. Anyway, I have a question. Can they propagate somehow? Does the corms get baby corms on top of them or is it only by seeds you can grow more of them? 🌿🌸 Thanks!!!!

[@johnnyAGardening]

These ones are from the Anemone coronaria and will self seed in the right position.

[@warlord2306]

after blooming season plant survive like rain lilies or just underground as bulb please answer ?

[@johnnyAGardening]

If its well drained soil, and a temperate climates they survive well. Very wet soils and cold winters will rot the bulbs, so in those zones, dig them after the foliage dies back, let them dry and store them in a cool dry place over winter.

[@johnnyAGardening]

If its well drained soil, and a temperate climates they survive well. Very wet soils and cold winters will rot the bulbs, so in those zones, dig them after the foliage dies back, let them dry and store them in a cool dry place over winter. Thanks for the question, I have added the answere tot he notes on the video.

[@warlord2306]

thanks for reply now i surly buy these bulbs :)

[@patriciasouza9567]

Will they grow on zone 5 as perennial ? I live in Canada and have very harsh winter ... will they survive the winter or I will I need to remove bulbs from the ground and store for the winter ? Grateful for your reply 🙏✨🌼

[@johnnyAGardening]

Hello Patricia, they will survive down to around zone 6 with luck, However zone 5 you will really need to lift them. OR, grow them in a container and put the container in a protected position over winter.

[@patriciasouza9567]

Thank you so much for your fast reply 😊

[@babestango2974]

Can I plant that here in our country Philippines?? I will be going Israel by Feb 4 to 13. I love planting. I hope I can get to see stores selling seeds. Pls let me know soonest.

[@johnnyAGardening]

Not sure, they will grow in semi - sub tropical zones, however the bulbs will struggle with hot wet summers. Worth a try, however I am not at all confident on that, If you do try them, I would like to know the results, as nit much information is available.

[@joannebradley3119]

Can I plant the bulbs in late May? I live in Ontario

[@johnnyAGardening]

Usually plant in autumn/fall although you can put them in, in early spring. It also depends a little on the type of anemone.

[@joannebradley3119]

@@johnnyAGardening Ok thanks I have the blue poppy de Caen type. I wish I could leave them in the ground instead of digging them up. Hopefully they will come up for me and it's not too cold where I live. Thanks!

[@akilaravi94]

My plant started to die just after foliage started to appear. The stems seemed too weak. I tried reporting to go in a bit deeper and give it some stability to stand. But it only died. Please help me. I’m a new gardener.

[@johnnyAGardening]

Hello Akila, These varieties of Anemone should start growing in late winter to spring. In a good soil they are very hardy. What variety did you use ? Where are you located ? Where did you get or buy the bulbs from ?

[@Swissmister93]

How deep does the pot need to be at least?

[@johnnyAGardening]

We use deep large diameter pots, around 18 inches (45 cm) as they remain cooler.

[@Swissmister93]

@@johnnyAGardening Thank you! Do they have long roots?

[@johnnyAGardening]

@@Swissmister93 Not really long, and you can grow them in shallower pots, however the deeper ones remain cooler.

[@ryanhuish3803]

Odd that he planted bulbs but then seedlings popped up. Seedlings would come from seeds, not bulbs. I think he may have edited the wrong clip in.

[@thelightison8629]

Well I screwed up. 😕 I planted mine last fall and I didn't soak them. I've been waiting for them to come up this spring and nothing. That's why I'm here, to learn that I have no idea what I'm doing. So riddle me this . . . are the bulbs still there but in a perpetual state of dormancy? Or are they dead and I need to just start over? Help! Plz!

[@johnnyAGardening]

Have a gentle dig around to see if the bulbs are still in the soil (not rotted away). If they are still in the ground, and firm, not soft and soggy,, they SHOULD come up soon.

[@thelightison8629]

@@johnnyAGardening wow you're johnny on the spot answering my question! Thanks I'll do that. I just realized what I said and no pun initially intended. 😄😉

[@stewy62]

The issue many people have with anemones is knowing “which way is up” but when it came to actually planting the bulbs they were hidden from view like a Magician hiding his best trick. So that’s a thumbs down 👎 from me I’m afraid. They are a great flower though.

[@johnnyAGardening]

Hello Stewy, we take the criticism, always room for improvement, HOWEVER, the shot of the bulb on the leaf at the beginning of the does show the bulb clearly and the pointy end is obvious, we held that one shot for a long time so people could see the bulb structure.

[@stewy62]

@@johnnyAGardening yes but that was just one bulb, as I’m sure you know anemone bulbs aren’t all the same, I planted 15 this morning and I reckon I could have classified them into about 5 different groups some of which were very strange shapes indeed. Hence seeing a few more bulbs in your video would have been really useful!