A spreading perennial with dark green, palmate basal and stem leaves, which have irregularly lobed leaflets, a beautiful background for the solitary, starry flowers which are produced in spring. Excellent ground cover as large clumps are quickly formed. Anemone appenina is similar - indeed some botanists regard Anemone blanda as a subspecies of appenina.

Anemone apennina var. albiflora is a form of this lovely anemone with white flowers, but pale blue on the reverse, and therefore blue before the flowers open.