In the spotlight Wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa)

One of the loveliest sights of early spring is that of the ground being transformed into a starspangled carpet of white by the native wood anemone, Anemone nemorosa. In undisturbed places, the rich leafmould of the forest floor may be entirely concealed by broad washes of white, mingled with the fresh green of the plant’s soft new foliage under the skeletal branches of trees.

Milkmaids, windflower, wind crowfoot and thimbleweed are some of its vernacular names and a good spread of wild anemones can be a useful way of identifying ‘ancient woodland’— that is, places that have been woods for more than 400 years. This is because their main method of colonisation is via steadily creeping rhizomes, the seeds being largely infertile. Although white is the usual colour, pink, mauve or pale bluetinted patches sometimes occur and closer inspection betrays the anemone’s kinship to both Ranunculus, the buttercups, and clematis. Gardeners have long treasured coloured and double-flowered forms, as well as its intensely coloured Mediterranean relative Anemone blanda.