Snowdrop windflower blooming in spring garden
I have grown the snowdrop windflower (Anemone sylvestris) in my garden for many years. It is a rhizomatous plant that is surprisingly hardy for such a dainty looking flower. Blooming in spring, it is a welcome sight with its showy white 1-2 inch cup-shaped fragrant flowers. Snowdrop windflowers are easily grown in average soil with a bit of humus and while it likes partial sun, it will tolerate full shade. Since we have a large shaded section of the yard, I love this plant.
My original instructions at purchase time said that the snowdrop windflower could be aggressive in loose sandy soil. Of course I thought, no problem, since our yard has a lot of heavy clay. Since then, each of my snowdrop windflowers have simply expanded to a small clump about a foot in diameter. The clumps are covered in dancing white blooms in spring which brighten up areas of the shade garden and the plant remains attractive even when the blooms have faded.
I have divided this plant many times to start new clumps and have shared the snowdrop windflower with friends. To my mind it is one of the perfect spring flowers; beautiful, fragrant and almost carefree!
Garden Tips
- Height: 1 – 1.5 feet
- Spread: .75 – 1 foot wide
- Bloom time: April
- Sun: Part shade
- Water: Medium
- Maintenance: Low
- Tolerates: Dense shade and deer
- Hardy in zones 4-8
- Will naturalize