Anemone Flower: What It Is, What It Means and How to Keep It Fresh

The anemone flower is a member of the buttercup family known for its silky, poppy-like petals around a dark, velvety centre. The anemone you see in bouquets is mostly Anemone coronaria, the poppy anemone, which comes in red, white, pink, blue and purple and is at its peak as a cut flower from late winter to spring. Its common name, windflower, comes from the Greek word anemos, meaning wind.

As florists we love anemones for their graphic look: a white anemone with a black eye can make an ordinary bouquet feel designed. They are also a little temperamental. In this guide you will find the main types, what the flower symbolises, how to keep cut anemones fresh and how to send them to someone in Russia.

Types of anemone you will meet

The poppy anemone, Anemone coronaria, is the classic florist's anemone. It grows from small, hard, claw-shaped corms and gives single or semi-double flowers 5 to 8 cm across on stems 25 to 40 cm long. The most popular colours are pure white with a black centre, often nicknamed the panda anemone, deep scarlet, cobalt blue and burgundy.

Japanese anemones (Anemone hupehensis and Anemone x hybrida) are tall garden perennials that flower in late summer and autumn with pink or white saucers and yellow centres. They are excellent in borders but rarely sold as cut flowers because the stems are fragile.

Wood anemones (Anemone nemorosa) are the small white flowers that carpet European and Russian woodlands in April and May. Russians call spring forest anemones vetrenitsa and see them as one of the first signs of real spring. They are best enjoyed where they grow, not picked.

There are also double-flowered forms of the poppy anemone, sold under names like 'Mr Fokker' for the blue single and 'St Brigid' for the doubles. Doubles look fuller and slightly ruffled, closer to a ranunculus, while singles show off the dark centre more clearly.

What the anemone flower means

The best-known story comes from Greek myth: anemones sprang from the tears of Aphrodite as she mourned the death of Adonis. Because of this the flower carries a double meaning, linked both to love and to loss, and to anticipation, since the petals open and close with the light.

In modern gifting nobody reads anemones as sad. Red anemones are given for love and passion, white for sincerity and a fresh start, and blue or purple for admiration and protection. In Victorian flower language anemones also stood for being forsaken, but that reading has almost disappeared outside of history books.

If you are giving flowers in Russia, remember the general rule of an odd number of stems for celebrations; even numbers are kept for funerals. Anemones are perfectly appropriate for birthdays, 8 March, a thank-you or simply to say you are thinking of someone.

Bouquets we can deliver

Bouquet of 1 yellow sunflowers

$13

Bouquet of 3 white French roses with eucalyptus, 50 cm

$18

Bouquet of 3 red French roses with eucalyptus, 50 cm

$18

Bouquet of 3 pink roses with eucalyptus, 50 cm

$18

How to care for cut anemones and why they close

Anemones are thirsty and drink much more than their thin stems suggest. Top up the water every day and change it completely every second day. Use a clean vase and cool water, and re-cut 1 to 2 cm from the stems at an angle with a sharp knife each time you change the water.

With good care, cut anemones last about 5 to 7 days, sometimes longer for fresh stems bought in bud. They keep growing slightly in the vase and bend towards the light, so expect the arrangement to move a little. That gentle curve is part of their charm; if you prefer it straighter, turn the vase daily.

Heat is their enemy. Keep anemones away from radiators, sunny windowsills and fruit, since ethylene from ripening fruit shortens their life. Many florists also keep the water level fairly low, around a third of the vase, because soft anemone stems can decay when they sit too deep.

Customers sometimes worry that their anemones have closed overnight. This is normal: the petals react to light and temperature, closing in the evening and in cool rooms and opening again in the morning. The flower is still fresh as long as the petals stay firm and silky. A real sign of ageing is petals that become translucent at the edges and start to drop, or a centre that loses its velvet texture. At that point you can float the heads in a shallow bowl of water for a few extra days of colour on the table.

Choosing and pairing anemones in a bouquet

When you choose anemones yourself, pick stems where the buds show colour and are just starting to open, with a ruff of green leaves still a little below the flower. Fully flat flowers with pollen already falling look spectacular for a day or two but will not last the week.

The dark centre of a white anemone is the strongest design element it has, so florists often build around it: white anemones with ranunculus, sweet peas, tulips and a little eucalyptus give a clean, modern spring bouquet. Adding a few stems of black or dark burgundy flowers repeats the eye of the anemone and makes the whole composition look deliberate.

Red and burgundy anemones pair well with garden roses, hellebores and dark foliage for a richer, winter-to-spring mood. Blue and purple anemones look fresh next to white tulips or muscari. Because anemone stems are short and soft, they work best in low, round bouquets and table arrangements rather than tall vases.

Growing anemones at home

Poppy anemones are grown from corms. Soak them in room-temperature water for 2 to 4 hours before planting, until they swell, then plant them 5 cm deep and 10 to 15 cm apart with the pointed side down. In mild climates they are planted in autumn for spring flowers; where winters are hard, as in most of Russia, plant them in spring after frosts or grow them in pots under cover.

They like sun or light shade and soil that drains freely. Overwatering is the most common reason corms rot before they sprout. Pick the flowers often, as regular cutting encourages more buds.

All anemones contain irritating compounds, so they are mildly toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, and the sap can irritate sensitive skin. Keep them out of reach of pets and wash your hands after handling corms.

Sending anemones to someone in Russia

Anemones are seasonal, so availability depends on the month. Look through our bouquets catalogue for anemone and spring compositions, or message a manager on WhatsApp to check what can be made for your date, agree the card text and get a photo of the bouquet before delivery.

We deliver across Russia. City delivery costs 500 RUB, and for remote districts and suburbs the operator confirms the price with the order. In large cities express delivery takes 1 to 2 hours after confirmation, or you can choose an exact time (plus or minus 30 minutes), a window of 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21, or pre-order 1 to 30 days ahead.

Delivery is anonymous by default and the card with your message is free. The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival; if nobody answers the door, we arrange a second delivery the same day or leave the bouquet with a neighbour or concierge with your consent. Payment is online by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay. You will find the full conditions on the delivery and payment page.