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Among the plants that bloom at the end of the season, the autumn anemone stands out. This is the tallest and most unpretentious of the anemones. She is also one of the most attractive. Of course, the autumn anemone does not have the catchy, bright beauty of the crowned one, which immediately attracts the eye and makes it stand out from other flowers. But, believe me, when you approach a bush of Japanese or hybrid anemone, you will not be able to take your eyes off the elegant plant for a long time.
Of course, each flower is beautiful in its own way. But autumn anemones deserve more attention than our gardeners give them. They look like they came out of paintings made in traditional Japanese style. The beauty of autumn anemones is refined and airy, despite their impressive size. At the same time, the anemone does not cause trouble for the owners and can grow with virtually no care.
Types and varieties of autumn anemone
This group includes four species and one subgroup of rhizomatous anemones:
- Japanese;
- Hubei;
- grape-leaved;
- felt;
- hybrid.
They are usually sold under the general name “Japanese anemone”. This is due to the fact that these anemones are really similar to each other, and it is difficult for a non-specialist to understand the differences.In addition, in fact, garden centers most often sell hybrid anemone obtained from wild relatives living in China, Japan, Burma and Afghanistan.
Let's take a closer look at the autumn species and varieties of anemones.
Japanese
Some sources claim that Japanese and Hubei anemones are the same species. It is believed that the anemone came to the Land of the Rising Sun from China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), was introduced there and underwent some changes. But since even among scientists there is no consensus on this matter, and flowers really have differences, we will give their descriptions separately.
Japanese anemone is a perennial herbaceous plant with creeping, horizontal rhizomes. In species plants, the height reaches 80 cm, varieties can grow from 70 to 130 cm. The leaves of this anemone are three times pinnately dissected, with jagged segments, colored green with a gray tint. The varieties are sought to have a bluish or silver tint.
Simple anemone flowers are collected in groups at the ends of branched stems, and in natural conditions they are colored white or pale pink. The buds open in early autumn. Varietal anemones have flowers of brighter colors and can be semi-double.
Japanese anemone prefers loose, moderately fertile soils, but if necessary it will be content with any soil. It is easy to care for and requires shelter for the winter only in regions with harsh winters with little snow. It grows well on its own, but does not like transplants.
Pay attention to the varieties of Japanese anemone:
- Queen Charlotte - deep pink velvety anemone flowers with a diameter of 7 cm strew the bush 90 cm high;
- Prince Henry - the height of the anemone can reach from 90 to 120 cm, the flowers are large, red, but in poor dry soil they can become pale;
- Whirlwind - semi-double snow-white flowers appear at the end of summer, anemone grows up to 100 cm;
- September Charm - grows above 100 cm, large simple pink anemone flowers are decorated with a golden center;
- Pamina is one of the early Japanese anemones of a red, sometimes even burgundy hue, blooms at the end of July and grows no higher than a meter.
Hubei
Unlike the previous species, it grows up to one and a half meters, its flowers are smaller, and the large leaves are dark green. Anemone blooms in late summer or early autumn and is colored white or pink. Varieties of this anemone were created so that the bushes were short and more suitable for home gardening.
Popular varieties:
- Tikki Sensation - from August until frost, white double flowers bloom on miniature anemones up to 80 cm high (silver medal at the international exhibition Plantarium-2017);
- Crispa - anemone is distinguished by corrugated leaves and pink flowers;
- Precox - anemone with raspberry-pink flowers;
- Splendence - anemone leaves are dark green, flowers are red.
Grape leaf
This anemone came to Europe from the Himalayas and is found at altitudes of up to 3 thousand m. It prefers sandy, moist soils. Anemone leaves can be five-lobed and really look like grapes. The flowers are modest, white or slightly pink. While the anemone itself grows up to 100 cm, the size of the leaf blade can reach 20 cm.
This anemone is rarely grown in our gardens, but is involved in the creation of hybrids.
Felt
Anemone of this species begins to bloom in late summer or early autumn; in nature it grows up to 120 cm. It is considered to be the most cold-resistant and hardy to adverse external influences. It is not recommended to grow this anemone in the southern regions. The anemone's leaves are pubescent on the underside, and the few flowers are pale pink.
Among the varieties, Robutissima can be distinguished with a height of up to 120 cm and pink fragrant flowers.
Hybrid
This anemone is a hybrid of the anemones listed above. Often varieties of species are also included here, which results in some confusion. But as you can see in the photo, the anemones are really very similar. The leaves of a hybrid anemone usually do not rise above the ground surface by more than 40 cm, while the flower stalks rise a meter. The buds appear for a long time, their color and shape are varied.
Anemone hybrids prefer abundant watering and grow well in loose, fertile soils. In poor soils, flower size and color suffer.
Look at the photo of popular varieties of hybrid anemone:
- Serenade - double or semi-double pink flowers reach a diameter of 7 cm, anemone bush - up to a meter;
- Lorelai - an anemone about 80 cm high, decorated with flowers of a rare silver-pink color;
- Andrea Atkinson - dark green leaves and snow-white flowers adorn anemone up to 1 m high;
- Lady Maria is a miniature anemone, not even half a meter in height, decorated with white single flowers, and grows very quickly.
Caring for autumn anemones
Planting and care looking for anemones blooming in autumn is not difficult.
Selecting a location
Autumn anemones can grow in partial shade. Where you place them depends on the region. In the north they feel good in an open place, but in the southern regions they will suffer if there is too much sun. All anemones do not like the wind. Take care to protect them, otherwise tall, delicate autumn anemones may lose their petals and lose their decorative effect. They need to be planted so that they are covered by trees or shrubs on the windy side.
All anemones, except hybrid ones, are not very demanding when it comes to soil. Of course, completely exhausted soil will not suit them, but there is no need to be zealous with manure.
Planting, transplanting and propagation
Anemones have fragile roots and do not like transplants. Therefore, before you lower the rhizome into the ground, think carefully about whether you would like to move the anemone to another place in a year.
The best time to plant anemones is in the spring. Autumn species and varieties may even bloom late in the season. Autumn planting undesirable, but possible for rhizomatous anemones. Just finish the excavation work well before frost, so that the roots have time to settle into the ground a little.
The soil for planting anemones is dug up and weeds and stones are removed. Poor soils are manured, and ash or dolomite flour is added to acidic soils. Planting is done so that the rhizome of the anemone is buried about 5 cm into the ground. Then watering and mandatory mulching are carried out.
It is better to combine replanting anemones with dividing the bush. This is done in early spring, when shoots have just appeared on the surface, and no more than once every 4-5 years.
The main thing is to do everything carefully, trying not to injure yourself.The anemone is dug up, freed from excess soil and the rhizome is divided into parts. Each must have at least 2 growth points. If necessary, in the spring you can carefully dig up the lateral shoots of the anemone and transplant them to a new place.
Seasonal care
When growing anemones, the main thing is watering. The soil must be well drained, since stagnation of moisture at the roots is unacceptable. In spring, watering is done no more than once a week, and only when there is no rain for a long time. In hot, dry summers, it is advisable to moisten the soil daily. Watering is especially important during the formation of buds.
If, when planting in the fall or spring, you added a lot of organic matter to the anemones, you don’t have to fertilize them until the end of the first growing season. In subsequent years, during the formation of buds, feed the anemone with a mineral complex, and in late autumn mulch with humus - it will serve as spring fertilizer.
Further care involves manual weeding - the roots of the anemone are located close to the surface. Therefore, the soil is not loosened; instead, it is mulched.
Preparing for winter
In autumn, the above-ground part of anemones is cut off only in the southern regions; for other regions this operation is postponed to spring. The soil is mulched with manure, compost, hay or peat. Where winters are harsh and there is little snow, the anemone can be covered with spruce branches and spandbond.
Conclusion
Graceful, delicate autumn anemones will brighten up your fall garden and won't require much care.
