JAPANESE ANEMONES

These elegant blooms are perfect for brightening up late-summer and autumn borders, which makes it easier to forgive their slightly thuggish tendencies

- MATTHEW REESE

FACT FILE

What A group of Asian perennial species and hybrids that currently fall within the genus Anemone. Known collectively as Japanese anemones (although none actually originate in Japan), they are also known as autumn-flowering anemones and windflowers.

Season From summer to October, depending on species.

Size From 80cm to 1.2m high, depending on species, with a spreading habit.

Conditions Sun or part shade, in any good soil except saturated soils.

Origins Eastern Asia from northeast Pakistan to Taiwan.

Hardiness Hardy throughout the UK with an RHS hardiness rating of H6-H7 and suitable for gardens in USDA zones 5a to 8b.

*Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. †Hardiness ratings given where available.

Anemone Elfin Swan (= ‘Macane017’)

A compact cultivar with large, attractive, palmate leaves. Masses of white flowers with blue backs are produced on sturdy, upright stems. A good clump-former for rich soils.

Height and spread: 50cm x 50cm.

RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b†.