November woodlanders

A short interruption from the North American native species, to announce a few ‘specials’ :
Anemonopsis macrophylla
Thalictrum rochebruneanum
Thalictrum delavayi

Every one of these species deserves a plant portrait, but time is short now (and long in the winter 😉 so just a bit of talk about Anemonopsis macrophylla; the seeds need sowing asap, in order to obtain good germination.
First, we have to give many thanks to the donor of the seeds! 

Anemonopsis macrophylla, False Anemone, as some call it, it is a woodlander hailing from Japan, specifically from the mountains of Honshu Island. It is in fact, the only species of the genus Anemonopsis. It is a very cold hardy plant that will grow well in a shaded, humus rich location.

The bowled shaped, white-lavender flowers resembling small lotus flowers (upside down) are gracefully nodding atop the flowering stems in late summer. They have a waxy aspect and it is truly hard to describe their beauty in words.

Luckily I have some very old pictures taken in someone’s garden. About 10 years ago this species had no common name; today apparently is called the False Anemone. It would have been more common sense to use the Japanese translation, which would be Lotus-flowered Actaea.
(rengeshoma in Japan; renge-lotus and shoma- Actaea; because the foliage is similar to that of Actaea species).

In the garden, Anemonopsis makes a good companion for Glaucidium palmatum, the above mentioned Thalictrums, Disporums, Jeffersonia, Deinanthe, Chinese Podophyllums and other let’s say, unusual (for us) woodland plants.

About the germination

Like in the case of many other species of Ranunculaceae family, sowing fresh seeds is very important. When sown in the first months after collection and provided a good cold/moist stratification (outdoors in our case), there is reasonable germination in the spring. Sow in a slightly larger pot; the seedlings will most probably spend two years in the sowing pot.

If sown too late into the winter/spring, keep in mind that most Ranunculaceae seeds first need a slightly warm/moist cycle (3-4 weeks) followed by a cold cycle, in order to germinate well. Anemonopsis is not a species that grows fast from seeds, but it is worth waiting for the first flowers. There is a reasonable amount of seeds/pck., at a symbolic cost (comparing with others offer). Do not miss this chance to grow something special for your shade garden!

Try the whole ‘trio’. The Thalictrums will bring a faster satisfaction until you wait for the Anemonopsis to reach flowering age. ‘Tis the sowing season, that’s what I am doing this afternoon 😊

PS. Thanks again to the nice fall, there are few more Daphne tangutica seeds available (another species that needs to be sown asap).