Delicate, vivid and a little mysterious, the anemone is a favourite of florists and brides. Its large flowers with a dark centre make any bouquet striking and unusual. Here are the types of anemone, the legends behind them, how to use them in wedding floristry and how to make a bouquet last. More flowers with photos, names and meanings are in our types of flowers guide.
The anemone is a herbaceous plant of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). Its name comes from the Greek anemos, "wind" — hence the common name windflower, as its light petals tremble in the slightest breeze. The genus has about 200 species across Europe, Asia and North America, and botanists often include close relatives such as pasque flowers and hepaticas.
Florists mainly use the poppy anemone (Anemone coronaria). Its flowers come in white, pink, red, purple, blue and bicolours, single or double, often with a contrasting dark centre.
According to one Greek myth, the anemone sprang from the blood of Adonis, Aphrodite's beloved, who was killed while hunting. Another version says the nymph Anemone, loved by Zephyrus, god of the west wind, was turned into a flower out of the flower goddess's jealousy. A Christian legend tells that anemones grew at the foot of Golgotha, and in Slavic folk belief the windflower was a protective, lucky flower.
Cut anemones are in season from late autumn to spring, which makes them especially popular for winter and spring weddings. White anemones with black centres look graphic and modern, soft pink and blue ones suit a romantic look, and deep red and purple ones are perfect for a bold bride. Anemones pair beautifully with ranunculus, roses, eucalyptus and tulips. See our bridal bouquet ideas.
On average, anemones last 5–7 days.
Wood anemone is one of the first spring flowers in Ukrainian forests: delicate white stars appear in April under still-bare trees. Don’t pick it in the wild — buy plants for a shady corner of the garden, where it quickly spreads into a carpet. Japanese anemone, by contrast, blooms in late summer and autumn: tall stems (up to 1 m) with pink or white flowers brighten the garden when most perennials have finished.
Sincerity, tenderness and anticipation — and in wedding floristry, joy and faithfulness.
Cut anemones are available from November to May, while garden species flower in spring or, like the Japanese anemone, in late summer and autumn.
Order a bouquet with anemones or other seasonal flowers with UFL delivery in Kyiv.
Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
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