Founding florist
Tulipanna
Bondi NSW · est. 1992
A Bondi Road florist since 1992, with seasonal bouquets, arrangements, roses and potted orchids, and a weekly note on what's at market.
Seasonal cut flowerAnemone coronaria
Anemone: when it's in season in Australia
In season now (November 2026): No
Anemone is outside the listed Australian season in November. The national season is June to October. Local growing conditions and supply can change the timing. Check the state guide below and ask your florist about locally grown stems before ordering, especially near the beginning or end of the season.
- Right now
- Out of season in November
- Season
- June to October
- Vase life
- 4 to 7 days
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Written by Dan d'Auvergne
Season by state
Flowers and pets: check before bringing a bunch home
Season months drafted from koch.com.au, figandbloom.com, katehillflowers.com.au, livingflowersmelbourne.com.au. Availability varies by grower and region. See sources
Anemones run alongside ranunculus through the cool months, at market from about June to October. Melbourne florists can see the first stems in May. The classic look is a white or jewel-toned flower with a dark, almost black centre, and they close up at night and reopen in light, which is part of their charm. They are grown locally, with some stems imported when demand runs ahead of supply. They are thirsty and do not like floral foam.
Where to buy anemone
Sold by the bunch. Most affordable in mid-winter when supply is steady.
How to choose good anemone
Start with the ruff of fine leaves sitting just under each flower. It should be bright green and crisp, not yellowing or slimy. Squeeze the stem gently near the base: firm is good, soft and hollow means the bunch is old. Look into the centre too. A tidy dark centre with no loose pollen dusting the petals is a younger flower. Skip bunches standing in warm water in a sunny shopfront, because anemones wilt quickly in heat. One bunch fills a small jug, and two make a generous low bowl. July and August, the peak of supply, is when bunches are fullest and best value.
Grown here or imported?
Anemone is not native to Australia, but it's grown here commercially.
Where it's grown
Most anemones at Australian markets are grown here as a cool-season crop, planted from small dried corms in autumn and picked from winter into spring. Growers are mostly specialist cut-flower farms, from market gardens on the edges of Melbourne and Sydney to small seasonal flower farms, and some crops go under plastic tunnels to protect the petals from rain. Victoria's cooler climate gives it an earlier start, which is why Melbourne florists can see stems from May. When local supply runs short, imported stems fill the gap. Anemone coronaria comes from the Mediterranean and is not native here.
Out of season, florists bring in imported stems. Ask your florist which you're buying: local stems are usually fresher and have travelled less.
Colours, varieties and care
Colours
- white
- red
- rose pink
- magenta
- lavender
- purple
- blue
Varieties to ask for
- De Caen
- Mistral
- Galilee
Vase life
4 to 7 days
Making it last
- Pick bunches where petals have started to separate from the centre but are not fully open
- Look for glossy leaves and avoid bunches with twisted stems
- Recut and place in a few centimetres of cool water with flower food
- Keep them cool and away from fruit, as they are very sensitive to ethylene
- Arrange in water, not floral foam
Using it at home
Anemones share the cool months with ranunculus, tulips, sweet peas and freesias, and a jug of anemones and ranunculus is the classic winter mix. The dark centres look sharp next to white or pale flowers, so try white anemones with blush ranunculus, or blue ones with white freesias. Use a low, wide vase or a short jug, because the stems curve towards the light and look best a little loose. Expect movement. The flowers open wider each day, close again at night and lean towards the window. They are a fresh flower only, so enjoy them while they last.
Meaning
Traditionally a flower of anticipation.
Where to see it growing
Big Sky Flower Farm
Brukunga
Usual season: not yet confirmed
Sydney Flower Market
Flemington
Best months: all year
Melbourne Market flower market (National Flower Centre)
Epping
Best months: all year
Questions people ask
When are anemones in season in Australia?
Anemones are at Australian markets from about June to October, peaking in July and August. In Melbourne the first stems can arrive in May. Some imported stems fill gaps when demand is high.
Can you get anemones for Mother's Day?
Sometimes, mainly in Melbourne, where the first local stems can appear in May. In other cities the local season usually starts in June, so any in early May are likely to be imported and limited. Ask your florist a week or so ahead rather than counting on them.
Why do my anemones close at night?
Anemones respond to light and temperature, closing in the dark or cold and opening again in daylight. It is normal and they keep doing it for most of their vase life.
How long do anemones last?
Usually four to seven days. Keep them cool, top up the water often because they drink a lot, and keep them away from fruit bowls.
Are anemones poisonous to cats and dogs?
Anemones belong to the buttercup family, and plants in that family carry a sap that can irritate the mouth and upset the stomach if chewed. Keep vases out of reach of pets that nibble flowers, and call your vet if a cat or dog has eaten part of a stem or flower.
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