Plug Connection
Anemone
Gemstone is a newer series of cutting Anemones from Sakata (the Voyage Lisianthus folks). What makes these different from the tuber grown Anemones you are used to? Well for one: the price! These are not cheap. They are seed grown, the seed is expensive, and they are very slow to get going.
That said, there are some advantages. These Anemones from plugs will be actively growing on arrival, so you won't have to bother "waking them up" out of dormancy. This can be crucial if you are trying to hit an early season market.
This crop will be best suited for growers with cool mild winters, or minimally heated tunnels. After transplant (6"x6") they would like a week or two around 65F, and then drop them to 50 degree nights with a 60-65 degree day to initiate buds. They will flower all winter and spring until temperatures start routinely exceeding 70 degrees. They are said to be day length neutral, so northern growers should be able to continue harvesting into the long days of summer as long as temperatures remain cool. (Many anemone strains will go dormant when days get too long).
When well grown you may harvest up to 20 stems per plant per season. This will require uniform temperatures in the recommend range. See full cultural recommendations from Sakata here.
You may dig the tubers at the end of the season for planting the following autumn.
Grown in a 128 tray, billed as a 125.
Order 13 or more weeks in advance of desired ship date.
Order Minimums & Tray Sizes
The minimum Plug Connection order is four total trays (each tray can be a different variety)
A full shipping box contains FOUR 128 cell trays or a combination of 128 and 288 cell trays.
*If you are only ordering 288 cell trays, then FIVE trays will fill a box.
Growing Guides
Click here to access our comprehensive growing guides containing everything you need to know about this crop.
| Common Name | Japanese Anemone; windflower |
| Genus | Anemone |
| Species | x hybrida |
| Family | Ranunculaceae |
| Life Cycle | herbaceous perennial |
| Format | Bare Roots |
| Care | All of these plants will ship to you from Vermont in early April. They will be just coming out of dormancy. You may see swelling buds or a bit of new growth, but in general they will be in a dormant state and may look a little dead. Don't worry! They will wake up. You may see a bit of mold on the roots but this is completely normal. Simply wash it off and plant immediately. As a precaution you can treat the roots with a fungicide or biofungicide, but this isn't necessary. Small broken branches are also of little concern. Just prune off any broken bits and the plant will recover quickly. The root system is the important part at this stage in the game. If you can't plant immediately on arrival store your bare roots in the cooler.The cold will delay their growth. Keep them from freezing. You can either pot them into 1 gallon pots or plant them directly into your prepared soil. Just make sure to plant them within a few days of arrival. They are waking up and are ready to grow, and they will decline quickly if they are not given soil, water and sunshine. This is a carefully orchestrated process to get plants quickly from their storage conditions to you so please do your part and be ready to plant them on arrival. There is no reason that these plants will experience any stress if you prepare for their arrival. |
| Netting / Staking | Can grow 1- 1.5 feet tall and up to 3 feet tall when in bloom. Taller plants may need staking or other support. |
| Hardiness | Zones 4-9. In milder climates, they can be nearly evergreen. In the south, they will do best in part shade to prevent burning the foliage and drying out. In the north, they will do best with mulching well for winter. |
| Spacing | Spacing 12-18". They will spread quite quickly when happy. |
| Soil Preference | High organic matter; good drainage; moist. |
| Light | Full sun (6+ hours direct daylight) or part shade (2-6 hours direct daylight) |
| Water | Anemones prefer moist but well-drained and fertile soils that are not allowed to dry out. Avoid planting in wet soils. |
| When to Plant | Spring, when the ground is workable. |
| Harvesting | Anemones have some flexibility since they stagger their bloom over a few week period. I always tried to catch them with a couple, freshly opened flowers and some swollen buds. |
| Post Harvest Care | Post Harvest guide coming soon |
| Diseases / Insects | Flea beetles, caterpillars, and slugs are occasional pests. Susceptible to Synchytrium leaf gall, downy mildew, Septoria leaf spot, powdery mildew, and some viruses. |
| Bailey's Notes | Anemone x hybrid, also known as Japanese Anemone, are actually hybrids of several Anemone species from China. They have all the charm of their spring blooming counterparts but are true perennials and quite adaptable to shade and even rather dry conditions. Best bloom will happen when kept well watered, but the plants will survive a range of conditions. They will bloom well in their first year from planting. |
| Resources |
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension Anemone 'Honorine Jobert' |