These are herbaceous anemones that are much larger than the spring-flowering bulbs Anemone blanda and nemorosa, typically 50 to 80 cm high, some a little taller, some more spreading. All have lovely flowers, white, pale yellow, blue, red, often with a darker flush to the outside of the petals (strictly sepals). They include plants from woods and from alpine meadows, and originate all round the northern hemisphere.

Anemone xlesseri has deeply divided leaves and flowers that should be bright red, although white-flowered forms are known.