Anemone vitifolia (21/09/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Sun to partial shade
Flowering period: Late summer to autumn
Soil: Moist, well drained soil
Eventual Height: 1m
Eventual Spread: 60cm
Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a
Family: Ranunculaceae
Anemone vitifolia is a deciduous herbaceous perennial with a clump forming habit. Its dark green leaves are cordate to ovate, deeply divided with 5 lobes, up to 20cm long and 20cm across. In white flowers have yellow stamens, are shallowly cup shaped, up to 5cm across and appear terminally at the ends of erect stems.
Anemone vitifolia, commonly known as the Grape Leaf Anemone, is native to the Himalayas, from Afghanistan to Burma (Myanmar). In its native habitat it grows in damp open woodland, scrub and stream sides.
Anemone vitifolia Flower (21/09/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
The etymological root of the binomial name Anemone may be a derivation of the Hebrew word for Adonis. Vitifolia is derived from the Latin vitis meaning ‘grape’ and folius meaning ‘leaf’.
The landscape architect may find Anemone vitifolia useful as a late summer flowering, low maintenance herbaceous perennial. It looks good when planted en mass and is suitable for prairie style planting. Although this plant will tolerate full sun it prefers dappled shade.
Ecologically, Anemone vitifolia flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.
Anemone vitifolia Leaf (21/09/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Anemone vitifolia prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It dislikes dry soils.
Anemone vitifolia requires little to no maintenance. It may be cut back in autumn. Large clumps of this plant may be divided in spring, although success may not be achieved.