Early Windflower
I was fairly certain I have an ‘Early Windflower ‘but now am wondering as I noted some discrepancies with Silvia Saunders’ description of the stamens and stems. It is possible there was some variation among the original plants, a strain all lumped together as ‘Early Windflower’. On an older flower I’ve noticed a red tinge to the tips of the anthers like those of ‘Late Windflower’.
My plant is in full sun and has a shorter, but earlier, period of bloom compared with my ‘Late Windflower’ which is shaded. Put this one in some shade as veitchi is commonly found in wooded areas.
| Cultivar: | Early Windflower |
| Year: | 1939 |
| Seedling No: | Originally a strain, 12591-12604, 13054-13058; page 50 of Saunders’ Notebook III |
| Parentage: | 15: anomala veitchi 6516 (from Tibet) X emodi |
| Flower: | Color: | white |
| Form: | single, 2 rows of petals, anemone-like small flowers, some sidebuds | |
| Blooms: | Week 1 | |
| Carpels: | 2, woolly | |
| Stigmas: | white | |
| Disc: | white, conspicuous | |
| Stamens: | filaments pale yellow on mine (Silvia Saunders noted “rosy”) | |
| Plant: | Habit: | rounded bush |
| Foliage color: | medium green | |
| Foliage form: | very narrow leaves, edged red (Silvia Saunders noted “red stems”) | |
| Height: | 35″ in 2022, foliage to 24″ | |
| Recommendation: | Recommended |
| Availability: | Few specialty nurseries |
