Quote from Lee Garden Ninja on 10th June 2026, 10:10 am

Hi @trailguru

Firstly don’t panic this just looks like a bit of heat stress. Looking at your photo I can see some small emerging shoots coming through the mulch which is actually encouraging. Here is my honest assessment of what’s likely happening.

Anemones in Spring Can Look Alarming

Spring planted anemone corms, particularly Anemone coronaria varieties, have a notorious habit of looking absolutely terrible before they get going. The browning from the leaf edges inward that you’re describing is classic establishment stress rather than necessarily a sign the plants are dying. They are incredibly sensitive to the transition between the nursery or shop environment and your garden conditions, and that adjustment period can look brutal.

The Most Likely Causes

The browning pattern you’re describing points to one of three things. Firstly, inconsistent watering during establishment, anemone corms need moisture but will rot if waterlogged, and the combination of a wet spring followed by any dry or windy spells causes exactly this edge browning as the plant struggles to regulate moisture through young, tender leaves. Secondly, late frost or cold wind scorch on newly emerging soft growth, which hits the leaf edges first. Thirdly, the corms may have been planted slightly too deep or into soil that isn’t draining freely enough around them.

What to Do Right Now

Do not dig them up yet. The corms themselves may be perfectly healthy even if everything above ground looks spent. Remove the brown foliage cleanly, ease off watering slightly, and give them two to three weeks to show you whether new growth pushes through from the base. A light feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser will support any recovery.

If the potted ones are also affected, check the compost isn’t staying wet and soggy between waterings as anemones in pots are particularly prone to sitting in too much moisture.

Lee Garden Ninja