PLANT PORN: WOOD ANEMONE

Words by Abi Himan

If you happen to take a stroll in some luscious woodland during that particular Spring-time sweet spot, when it's that bit warmer, but the canopy of the trees above isn't quite dense enough to keep those rays from beating down, then you might find a carpet of starry-eyed white and purple flowers shining up at you. This little stunner may well be the wood anemone heralding the arrival of spring.

HANGOUTS

These fancy-footed beauties are found only in the most ancient of woodlands - think towering oaks, gigantic yews and birch tree canopies, roots twisting and sprawling between lichen and moss-drenched tree stumps and fallen branches and tufts of ever-changing greenery - a landscape steeped in history and mystique.

THE DEETS

As we mentioned, they only grow in ancient woodlands (that's just 2.5% of UK land folks), so you should count yourself lucky to be in their presence - but luckily, they're pretty easy to spot and grow densely in these areas.

It's a low-grower, preferring to spread across the entire forest floor than up towards the skies, the wood anemone is easily recognised by it's large white or purple-streaked starry-shaped flowers that have 5-7 petals around a jolly yellow centre. Could you say Spring any louder?

Title image credit: Guy Edwardes 2020VISION / naturepl.com