Anemone

What do you call a plant that can survive both on land and in (sea) water? You might have guessed already: it’s the anemone! Although there is no link between the sea-dwelling polyps and the colourful anemones that bloom on land, it's still a fun riddle (we think). This month, our spotlight is on this cheerful plant as a cut flower!

Origin

There are various stories in circulation about the origins of the anemone and its name. There is a Roman myth about a nymph at the court of the goddess Flora and the god of the wind Zephyr. It is said that Zephyr fell in love with the nymph, and that Flora transformed her into a flower. The name of the nymph was Anemone.

However, these tales are not based on truth, and we’d rather stick to the facts. The anemone originates from southern Europe and Asia. The plant was brought the Netherlands some 400 years ago by Carolus Clusius. After the plant was introduced, cultivation expanded rapidly in Europe. French growers thereby led the field. The name is derived from the Greek word ‘anemos’, which means wind. This is because the anemone moves in the wind at the slightest breeze.

Anemone species

There are many different anemone species available. It is estimated that there are some 120 species. Out of all those species, three can be found growing wild in the Netherlands: the blue anemone, the wood anemone and the yellow anemone. Luckily you do not need to go into the woods to find this flower. We sell anemones in many different colours in our webshop!

Symbolism

The flower symbolises expectations, care and honesty. So if the flower is given as a gift, the person giving the anemones is saying ‘I want to be with you’. This symbolism means the flower is very suitable for a beautiful bouquet for gifting.