Japanese Anemone

formerly Anemone japonica
Anemone hupehensis
Anemone vitifolium
Anemone tomentosa
Anemone x hybrida

Common name: Japanese Anemone, Windflower

About Japanese Anemone

These species of anemone are actually native to China, despite their common name of Japanese Anemone. The flowers became known in Europe after a specimen was recorded near Nagasaki in 1695, and by the time the first plants were introduced in 1844, they were already known as Anemone japonica. The name is still sometimes used in catalogs, but most modern varietals are descended from Anemone x hybrida.

The name anemone comes from the Greek word anemos, meaning wind. Anemones are sometimes called windflowers.

Description

These late-summer-blooming perennials are hardy in zones 4 to 8. The flower stems can be up to forty-eight inches long. The flowers are often white, red, or pink and more rarely blue or yellow. The fern-like foliage spreads twelve to eighteen inches with about the same height.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom - Plantae
Division - Magnoliophyta
Class - Magnoliopsida
Order - Ranunculales
Family - Ranunculaceae
Genus - Anemone

Cultivation

Japanese Anemones prefer an alkaline loamy soil, but they can be grown successfully even in clay. They like full sun to part shade and require even moisture and good drainage.

They can be propagated by root cuttings in winter or division in spring.

After planting, anemones may take a year or two to settle in before they bloom heavily, but their display will improve each year.

Uses

Japanese Anemones give color to the late summer garden. They are often used in perennial borders or woodland gardens. They are also grown for cutting.

Some cultivars of Japanese Anemone are grown for the cut flower trade.

Varieties to Grow

Anemone x hybrida 'Alba' - white flowers
Anemone x hybrida 'Alice' - light pink flowers
Anemone x hybrida 'Whirlwind' - semi-double, white flowers
Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert' - white, heirloom from 1858
Anemone x hybrida 'Rosenschale' - pink flowers
Anemone x hybrida 'Konigin Charlotte' - pink semi-double, heirloom from 1898
Anemone hupehensis 'Bressingham Glow’ - dark purple flowers
Anemone hupehensis 'Hadspen Abundance' - deep lilac-purple flowers
Anemone hupehensis ‘Prinz Heinrich' - dark purple flowers
Anemone tomentosa - pale pink flowers, early bloomer

Problems

Japanese Anemones are quite trouble-free.

from the Victorian Gardener

Read Windflower for the Victorian opinion of this beautiful flower.

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