Single and double red, pink, purple and white garden anemone flowers above finely divided green leaves

How to Grow Anemone Corms in South Africa

Grow single and double garden anemones for jewel-coloured cool-season flowers by giving their corms sun, sandy drainage and a dry rest. The supplied garden anemones are best treated as Anemone coronaria-type corms: compact plants with finely divided leaves and showy flowers. They are ideal for a bright border, a sheltered container or a cutting patch.

Position

Full sun, shelter and light, sandy, free-draining soil.

Plant

Soak dry corms for several hours, then plant 5–7 cm deep.

Water

Keep consistently moist in active growth, never waterlogged; dry them in dormancy.

Planting corms for a strong start

Rehydrate dry corms in water for several hours or overnight, then plant promptly. In a sunny sheltered bed, use light sandy soil and set each corm 5–7 cm deep, spaced evenly with room for each plant to develop. Water after planting and keep soil evenly moist while shoots, leaves and buds are growing; do not let it turn sodden.

Plant for the local cool season. Anemones are Mediterranean sun-lovers, so deep shade and wet dormant conditions cause more trouble than a brief dry spell after foliage has finished. Flower timing varies with weather and planting date.

Containers, flowers and feeding

Use a pot with open drainage holes and a free-draining mix with added sharp grit. Put it in full sun and shelter from driving rain. Keep mix lightly moist during active growth. In rich soil, extra feeding is not essential; a light labelled feed while green is sufficient for a container. Cut a few flower stems for a vase display, leaving the basal foliage to feed the corm; remove spent flowers to keep the planting tidy.

After leaves yellow, reduce water. Corms may remain in a dry, freely drained bed or can be lifted and dried for their rest; choose containers where wet summer rain would otherwise keep the corms damp.

Care in four South African regions

Winter-rainfall Western Cape

Cool wet growth suits anemones, but plant in fast drainage and shelter pots from periods of saturation. Keep dormant corms dry in summer.

Frost-prone interior

Use a sheltered pot or apply dry mulch for damaging frost. Protect leaves and flower stems without trapping wetness around corms.

Humid coast and KZN Midlands

Prioritise sunny airflow and a gritty raised bed or pot. Water the root zone and avoid wet foliage late in the day.

Hot, dry and subtropical interior

Grow through the coolest suitable season. Keep active corms evenly moist, but use a container so the dormant period can stay dry.

Troubleshooting

Corms rot or fail to emerge

Discard soft corms and correct waterlogging, heavy soil or a pot without open drainage before planting again.

Weak stems or few flowers

Move to more sun, maintain even active-growth moisture and avoid crowding. Cooler conditions make stronger, longer stems.

Chewed or mildewed foliage

Check for slugs, caterpillars and leaf pests. Improve airflow, remove affected material and avoid wet foliage overnight.

Safety

Anemone corms and plant material are ornamental, not food. Ingestion may cause stomach upset and contact may irritate skin. Wear gloves when handling and keep corms and plant material away from children and pets.

Choose your anemone corms

Ready for a bright single or double anemone display? Use the soaking, planting-depth and dry-dormancy steps above to establish your corms well.

Anemone Single Mixed – 25 bulbs

Shop single anemone corms

Anemone Double Mixed – 25 bulbs

Shop double anemone corms

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