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From late summer or early autumn, Japanese anemone begins to bloom in our gardens. This exquisite herb is nothing like the showy crown anemone or the humble but elegant forest primrose. Japanese autumn anemone undemanding to care and grows quickly. It belongs to the genus of anemone, numbering more than 150 species, and through it it belongs to the vast family of buttercups, which are widespread throughout the Northern Hemisphere with the exception of the tropics.
Description of autumn anemones
Anemone blooming in autumn differs from other varieties in high, up to 1.5 m, growth, and buds collected by loose umbrellas. Their rhizomes are creeping, the leaves are large, pinnately dissected. The flowers are medium-sized, like chamomile, in varieties or hybrids they can be semi-double. The color of the petals - all shades of white and pink, stamens and the middle - yellow or salad. There are varieties and hybrids of Japanese anemones with crimson and purple flowers.
In any case, you will not see such a riot of colors as in the crown anemone. But the Japanese anemone has its own charm. She does not immediately attract attention to herself, but it is difficult to take your eyes off her graceful flowers.
There are sources that claim that Japanese and Hubei anemone are one species. Just for a period close to a millennium after the appearance in the Land of the Rising Suns, the flower has undergone some changes. Supporters of the separation of species indicate that the Japanese anemone has grayish leaves and does not reach a height of one meter. The Hubei anemone is distinguished by a dark green bush, 1.5 m tall, its flowers are smaller. In any case, it is difficult for a layman to understand these differences. Look at the photos of species plants, they really look alike.
Japanese anemone
Hubei anemone
Autumn anemone varieties
It is difficult to list all the varieties of autumn anemones, as well as to determine exactly whether they belong to the Hubei, Japanese or hybrid anemone. Flowers can be marketed under any of these names. We will give a description of several of the most popular varieties.
Crispa
Anemone Crisp is an excellent outdoor plant. Blooms profusely from late summer to mid-autumn. Its petals are slightly curved, pale pink with a pearl tint, the middle is yellow, a bush 60-70 cm high. Anemone Hubei Crispa differs from other varieties in corrugated leaves of light color. Grows well in partial shade.
Pretty lady julia
Anemone Pretty Lady Julia is a new variety with rich pink or crimson semi-double flowers and a yellow center. Numerous buds appear in late summer and bloom until late autumn. Miniature bush, grows no higher than 60 cm. It is better to plant an anemone in a place protected from the sun.
Whirlwind
The anemone, whose name translates as "whirlwind", can be sold under the names Welwind, Velwind or Wilwind. Its height reaches a meter, semi-double white flowers with golden stamens are collected together in 10-15 pieces.
Honorine jobert
The Japanese anemone Honorine Jobert is often sold under the name Honorine Jobert. Its height is about 80 cm, large, dissected leaves are grayish-green. The flowers of the anemones are simple, snow-white, with yellow stamens.
Robustissima
This flower is slightly different from the previous ones. This is not surprising, because the Robustissima variety belongs to the felt anemones, in which the leaves are pubescent from below.The flowers are bright pink, simple, they look like dahlias. Funny guys, which is clearly seen in the photo. But the bush can hardly be called miniature, it reaches 120 cm, and the buds are small.
Japanese anemone care
Growing autumn anemones will not be difficult even for novice florists. But it reproduces best by dividing the rhizome, which does not like to be disturbed.
Location of the anemone
To fit and care for anemones blooming in autumn, did not cause a hassle, be responsible for the placement of flowers. Best suited for them is a place protected from the wind by buildings, planting of shrubs or trees with an openwork crown. Autumn anemones are quite tall, herbaceous perennials are unlikely to be able to cover them.
Anemone grows well in partial shade or where the midday sun cannot scorch their delicate petals. The soil is needed moderately fertile, loose. Unlike crown anemones, it can be not only slightly alkaline, but also neutral. The soil should be well permeable to water and not muddy. If the site is damp, under the flowers you need to arrange drainage from rubble or broken red brick.
Planting anemones
It is best to plant an autumn anemone in the spring, but if necessary, this operation can be postponed to autumn. First, the soil is dug up, pebbles and roots of weeds are removed, if necessary, organic matter is introduced and deoxidized with dolomite flour, ash or lime. Then the Japanese anemone is planted so that it grows freely, and the roots do not compete for water and nutrients with other plants.
Planting depth of anemone in the open field is 5 cm. Be sure to water the flowers.
Caring for anemone
All care of the anemone comes down to manual weeding, periodic watering and top dressing. The Japanese anemone is not as demanding on soil moisture as the crown anemone. In the spring, it is watered once a week, and only if there is no rain for a long time. In hot, dry summers, this is done more often, but little by little. Anemone roots are located in the upper layers of the soil, which quickly loses moisture at high temperatures, and cannot take water from the lower layers of the soil. It is impossible to loosen the land next to the anemone, in order to facilitate care and reduce weeding, mulch it.
Often, Japanese anemone grows in our country without any additional feeding and cannot show itself in all its glory. If you give her fertilizer three times a season, your flowers will be strong, healthy, their color will become bright, and the buds will be larger.
- In the spring, when the first leaves appear from the ground, anemones need organic fertilizers. If in the fall you have mulched the soil with a dry mullein, you do not need to feed them.
- During the formation of the first buds, give the anemone a mineral complex.
- In late September - early October, feed the anemone with any nitrogen-free fertilizer or sprinkle ash under the bushes.
Shelter anemones for the winter
In the south, Japanese anemones do not need shelter for the winter. Their planting can be covered with a thin layer of mullein, this will serve as a precautionary measure and will allow in the spring not to waste precious time on the first feeding.
In regions with a cold climate, anemones are covered with peat, humus or fallen leaves. The mulch layer should be thicker where winters are harsh or snow rarely falls.
Breeding anemone
Reproduction of Japanese anemone is difficult only because fragile roots are injured when dividing the rhizome. Their restoration takes about a year.
Once every 5 years, dig a bush of anemones, carefully divide the rhizomes into parts, treat the cuts with charcoal, and plant them in a new place. This can be done in autumn, but it is better to wait for spring.If there is a need to get several new plants without transplanting, you can propagate the anemone by carefully separating the side shoots from the mother bush with a shovel right in the ground.
Japanese anemone in landscape design
Autumn anemones grow quite tall, except for some new varieties. They look great as a tapeworm, focal plant, and as part of woody landscape groups. Anemone can be planted in a flowerbed along with other perennials of suitable growth, as a high curb or along the perimeter of a fence, gazebo or farm building.
Japanese anemone goes well with such plants:
- large hosts;
- ferns;
- any conifers;
- repair roses with bright flowers;
- shrubs and trees that change color of leaves by the end of the season.
Conclusion
In the fall, the Japanese anemone has practically no competitors in the garden. This flower is so different from a rose that they make great companions. Plant an autumn anemone on your property and you will become a fan of it forever.
