Japanese Anemones are superb late flowering perennials that will fill your garden with flowers from August until October. Consisting predominantly of the species Anemone hybrida and Anemone hupehensis. Once established Japanese anemones are easy to grow and maintenance free. They are well suited to many styles of garden, they thrive in partially shaded spots (though will tolerate full sun) in humus rich and well drained soil. It should be mentioned that they can be known to become a little invasive in some conditions.


Varieties

There are a number of Japanese anemones varieties, offering flowers in various shades of pink and white. These are some of the most popular ones.

Hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’

Honorine Jobert Anenome

The ‘Honorine Jobert’ is a variety with some of the loveliest white flowers. The silken petals surround particularly fine golden stamens. On fertile soil it can grow to a metre or more in height but is often shorter in its first season. The light height of this elegant perennial means that it fits easily into any garden. It is also loved by bees and other pollinators.

Sun requirementsFull sun to part shade
SoilAny good, well-drained soil
HardinessFully hardy (to -20 °C or below)
SizeGrows to 1m x 50cm
Flowering timeAugust to September

Hupehensis ‘Pamina’

Anemone hupehensis 'Pamina'

A ‘Pamina’ is an upright, clump-forming variety with divided dark green foliage. Its tall stems carry double, deep pink flowers that form a neat rosette of many narrow tepals in late summer.

Sun requirementsFull sun to part shade
SoilAny good, well-drained soil
HardinessFully hardy (to -20 °C or below)
SizeGrows to 1m x 50cm
Flowering timeJuly to September

Hybrida ‘Whirlwind’

Anemone hybrida 'Whirlwind'

This ‘Whirlwind’ is a hardy perennial that makes clumps of large, dark, divided leaves. The pure white flowers with yellow stamens are produced in abundance on stems held above the foliage.

Sun requirementsFull sun to part shade
SoilAny good, well-drained soil
HardinessFully hardy (to -20 °C or below)
SizeGrows to 1m x 50cm
Flowering timeAugust to September

Hupehensis ‘Pocahontas’

Anemone hupehensis 'Cinderella'

The ‘Pocahontas’ is a compact, oval, palmate, toothed with dark green leaves. From midsummer into autumn, its upright branching stems bear single, rose-pink flowers with yellow centres.

Sun requirementsFull sun to part shade
SoilAny good, well-drained soil
HardinessFully hardy (to -20 °C or below)
SizeGrows to 40cm x 60cm
Flowering timeJuly to September

Hupehensis ‘Jasmine’

Anemone hupehensis 'Jasmine'

A ‘Jasmine’ is a compact perennial with oval, palmate, toothed with dark green leaves. From midsummer into autumn, its upright branching stems bear single, dark pink flowers with yellow centres.

Sun requirementsFull sun to part shade
SoilAny good, well-drained soil
HardinessFully hardy (to -20 °C or below)
SizeGrows to 50cm x 60cm
Flowering timeJuly to September

Hupehensis ‘Pocahontas’

Anemone hupehensis 'Pocahontas'

This ‘Pocahontas’ is a compact perennial with oval, palmate, toothed with dark green leaves. From midsummer into autumn, its upright branching stems bear double, rose-pink flowers with yellow centres.

Sun requirementsFull sun to part shade
SoilAny good, well-drained soil
HardinessFully hardy (to -20 °C or below)
SizeGrows to 50m x 60cm
Flowering timeJuly to September

Hupehensis ‘Belle’

Anemone hupehensis 'Belle'

A ‘Belle’ is a compact perennial with oval, palmate, toothed with dark green leaves. From midsummer into autumn, its upright branching stems bear semi-double, dark pink flowers with yellow centres.

Sun requirementsFull sun to part shade
SoilAny good, well-drained soil
HardinessFully hardy (to -20 °C or below)
SizeGrows to 50cm x 60cm
Flowering timeJuly to September

Hupehensis ‘Red Riding Hood’

Anemone hupehensis 'Red Riding Hood'

This ‘Red Riding Hood’ is a compact perennial, with rounded to oval leaves divided into three toothed, dark green lobes. The slender, wiry stems bear umbels of saucer-shaped, magenta to deep rose-pink flowers from late summer into autumn.

Sun requirementsFull sun to part shade
SoilAny good, well-drained soil
HardinessFully hardy (to -20 °C or below)
SizeGrows to 50cm x 60cm
Flowering timeAugust to September

Growing Guide

Planting

Position in your garden in well-drained soil. Japanese anemones prefer to be in a spot with partial shade, but will tolerate full sun.

Watering

Mulch around the plants each year to help keep the soil moist as well as keeping them watered without over watering them which could result in being waterlogged.

Pruning

Japanese anemones are very low maintenance. You may choose to deadhead the flowers as they fade. In late autumn you may also want to leave it, cutting it back in the Spring when the new growth starts.


Planting Ideas

These are fantastic plants for mixed borders in cottage gardens as well as for modern planting designs. You could extend the flowering season interest by adding some geraniums or hostas which will add some eye catching colour and texture to your garden.


Fact

Despite their name, Japanese anemones are actually native to China. They were first discovered by European plant hunters in Japan, however, giving rise to their mistaken identity.