Grecian windflower

Description:

nemone blanda (common names Grecian windflower or winter windflower) is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to southeastern Europe, Turkey, Lebanon, and Syria. An herbaceous tuberous perennial, it grows to 15 cm (6 in) tall and broad. It is valued for its daisy-like flowers which appear in early Spring, a time when little else is in flower. The flowers are an intense shade of purple blue, but are also available in shades of pink and white. It grows in any well-drained soil which dries out in summer; hence it is often used for underplanting deciduous trees which provide the necessary conditions. It rapidly colonises any favoured location. The dark green foliage dies down in summer. This plant and its cultivar A. blanda var. rosea 'Radar',have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. The specific epithet blanda means "mild" or "charming". (Wiki)