Anemone coronaria (De Caen Group) ‘Hollandia’ (windflower bulbs) £4.99
Position: full sun Soil: light, sandy soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: March to April Flower colour: red and white with a black eye Other features: useful as cut flowers Hardiness: fully hardy Bulb size: 5/6 A low growing tuberous perennial, which is much-loved for its large, black-eyed, red flowers, which appear in spring over mounds of finely dissected foliage. The velvet-like petals form large open bowls, and gradually open out even further before they fall to create saucer-like plates. They make charming cut flowers and look lovely at the front of a sunny border. Garden care: Soak the tubers overnight in cool water and plant them in naturalistic drifts (it doesn’t matter which way up) 5cm deep and 15cm apart from September to November. Ideally you should choose a spot where they can be left undisturbed so they can naturalise and spread. Avoid excessively wet conditions when dormant.