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Great Design Plant: Japanese Anemone
This autumn bloomer's showy white blossoms add spark to your late-season plant mix
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
By fall, most people have resigned themselves to saying goodbye to blooms in their perennial gardens until spring. However, there are many choices for fall flowers beyond chrysanthemums. The Japanese anemone is a beautiful plant that provides abundant foliage throughout spring and summer, then explodes with tall white flowers in the fall. Whether you're planting them in a clump, lining a fence or adding white blossoms to the fall garden, these beauties are worth looking into.
| Botanical name: Anemone hupehensis Common name: Japanese or Chinese anemone USDA zones: 4 to 8 (find your zone) Water requirement: Needs moist but well-drained soil Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade. The farther south you are, the more shade they need, and vice versa. Mature size: 1 to 5 feet high Benefits and tolerances: Can survive cold winters Seasonal interest: The base of the plant has lovely leaves from late spring through summer, then the white flowers bloom in autumn. When to plant: Early fall or spring after the last frost |
| Distinguishing traits: What separates this anemone from so many others is that it's a fall bloomer, providing rare white flowers after many other summer blooms have died. Some variations and hybrids have flowers in a range of pinks and lavender. The base of deep green trifoliate leaves adds foliage to the garden through spring and summer, while the tall blooms add flowers at 3 to 4 feet high. The flowers themselves are exquisite. White sepals surround a circle of yellow stamens. |
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| How to use it: Japanese anemones can be mixed carefully into a perennial garden to provide fall flowers. They also add white blooms to a colorful fall flower mix. |
| The plant also works well in a cottage garden, especially along a picket fence. It looks great in large clumps — just remember that these clumps will be flower free all summer. |
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by Habitat Design
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| Anemones also have a delicate and exotic look that makes them perfect for Asian-style gardens. They are a good choice for rock gardens and gardens along woodland edges. |
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| Planting notes: Anemones need fertile, well-drained soil and thrive best when they receive morning sun and at least some afternoon shade. • Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart. • Dig a hole that is the same depth as the container. • Shake soil from the plant loose and place the plant gently in the hole. • Add soil to fill. • Water the plant — soil should be kept moist but not wet. • Mulch around the plant to help keep the soil moist. |
Comments
olldbobbi It's about this time of year when everyone is a little weary of weeding and watering and mulching.......what a beautiful and refreshing flower blooming at just the right time!
10 months ago · Like
Pascale I love these - they're so cheery, bloom for months in my garden and I love the way they dance in a breeze. A word of warning, although I don't know if this is true in all gardens - in my garden I found they can spread very quickly, via their tuberous roots, and become somewhat invasive. I ended up transplanting them to a garden bed where I can more easily keep them rounded up. Fortunately the tubers are easy to dig up and replant, making it easy to share the bounty with friends and family!
10 months ago · Like
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Becky Harris True Pascale, I should have added that after they are established, you'll want to divide them every 2-4 years!
10 months ago · Like
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pursue As an added bonus, the deer have never bothered our Japanese anemones here in Maryland. They visit daily in our yard.
10 months ago · Like
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tuulaabby Pretty but VERY invasive. and hard to get rid of once they've taken over your garden.
10 months ago · Like
pursue Mine in Maryland are planted near big trees and they have not been invasive. Maybe if they were in the open garden and not competing with tree roots they would become invasive. Sometimes invasive is good--ground is covered and no weeds! We just mow the plants down at end of season with the mower.
10 months ago · Like
kennedytarheel love anemones(wonderful colors, excellent backdrop height, deer resistant, easy to care for) but they can take over the planet if you aren't careful!
10 months ago · Like
Becky Harris Wow, I've planted them in central Virginia and Atlanta and wished they'd become a little more invasive - never had that problem. I like to hear about everyones' experiences as they differ from zone to zone, microclimate to microclimate. Come to think of it, mine didn't have much room to spread in my Virginia garden even if they'd wanted to!
10 months ago · Like
katie McMahon One plant will give you many more. I love that they come alive with those pretty white flowers when most other plants are on their way out.
10 months ago · Like
Ginkgo Leaf Studio Rarely used but it is a great , late-season shade perennial! Have found that it will spread but my experience is that established plants do not like to be moved. They will look sad the rest of the summer but come back fine the following year.
10 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Aug. 23, 2012.
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