Tree-anomone

Year-round

Tree anemone is not native to the Los Angeles area, its wild population is a small patch of Sierra Nevada foothill canyons near Fresno, but it is a tough, low water evergreen shrub that does well in LA gardens once it settles in.

• Give it full sun near the coast or part shade in hotter inland LA valleys, it handles both.
• Plant in well draining soil. It is used to fast draining decomposed granite in the wild, so heavy clay needs to be loosened or the plant raised in a mound before planting.
• Water regularly the first one to two summers to get roots established, then cut back to about three waterings a month in summer.
• It tolerates cold into the teens Fahrenheit, well past anything LA basin winters throw at it, so frost is not a real worry here.
• Expect a rounded shrub six to ten feet tall and wide over time, so give it room away from walkways and low HOA hedge lines.

Fall

Fall is the best time to plant or transplant tree anemone in the LA area, giving roots the cooling weather and coming winter rain to settle in before next summer's heat.

• If you are adding a new plant, get it in the ground in October or November so it can use the winter rainy season to establish.
• Water new fall plantings by hand every week or two until the rain becomes reliable, established plants can start tapering off.
• This is also a good time for a light shape up prune, since the plant is not actively flowering and heat stress is easing.
• Clear fallen leaf litter from underneath the shrub to keep the base dry and reduce fungal issues going into the wetter months.

Clearing leaf litter and a light tidy up prune keeps the bed looking maintained through the fall.

Winter

Winter is easy on this shrub in the LA area, it holds its glossy evergreen leaves year round and the region's mild winter lows are well within what it can handle.

• The plant tolerates cold down into the teens Fahrenheit, so an LA winter cold snap in the 30s or 40s is not a concern.
• Let winter rain do the watering, hold off on supplemental irrigation unless the season turns unusually dry.
• No need to protect the foliage or wrap the plant, it stays evergreen and holds its shape through winter.
• This is a good season to plan next spring's pruning rather than cut now, since the shrub is dormant and not actively pushing new growth.

A tidy, still green shrub through winter keeps the front yard silhouette looking intentional rather than bare.

Spring

Spring is when tree anemone puts on its show, covering itself in fragrant white flowers with a yellow center right as LA's rainy season tapers off.

• Let late winter and early spring rain do most of the watering, LA usually gets its wettest months from December through March.
• Once flowering finishes, prune out any floppy or crossing stems to keep the shrub's shape tidy for the rest of the year.
• Check new spring growth for aphids, they can show up on the soft new tips but rarely need more than a strong hose spray.
• Bees and butterflies visit the flowers heavily, so hold off on any spray treatments while it is in bloom.

A post bloom prune keeps the shrub looking neat and rounded rather than floppy, which matters for front yard curb appeal.

Summer

LA summers are long, dry, and can push into the 90s inland, but this shrub is built for exactly that kind of dry season once it is established.

• Water no more than about three times a month once the plant has a full year or two in the ground, more than that in heavy soil can lead to root rot.
• In hotter inland parts of the LA area, afternoon shade helps the foliage look its best through the hottest stretch of summer.
• Coastal and near coastal LA gardens can keep it in full sun all summer without extra help.
• Skip summer fertilizer, this plant is adapted to lean, fast draining soils and heavy feeding just pushes soft growth that struggles in the heat.