One wonders why Japanese anemones are not more often seen in gardens. The answer is obvious: fall-blooming anemones are difficult to grow in every garden. This may be true, but very often, other plants more difficult to grow well are found.
Perhaps it is more probable that its absence in many gardens is not due to the plant’s idiosyncrasies of culture but that, like the gas plant, the Christmas rose, and certain early bulbs, it takes a long time to become established.
Rarely does one see a splendid clump of Anemone japonica in a new garden?
The experienced gardener has tried one place before the plant settles down and is at home.
Desirable Qualities Of Anemones
Although not a plant for the beginner, the anemones have so many desirable qualities they are well worth waiting for, especially in a partly shaded garden.
The foliage, slow to appear in the spring, is a handsome shining dark green and looks well through the season.
The flowers rise well above the foliage on strong stems which seldom need staking.
The bloom, freely produced, comes in various shades of rose, mauve, pink, red and white, from late August to September and continuing until frost.
The contrast of the yellow stamens is stunning in the white varieties.
Aside from their permanence when well-established, they are not difficult to increase by root cuttings which may be taken any time during the growing season, preferably in the late spring.
Quick Methods To Increase Anemone Plant Stocks
The best way to do this is to take up a plant and cut pieces off the roots about 2” inches long.
Place these in a flat or pan of light soil and cover an inch deep.
When growth begins, pot each shoot separately and keep it in a cold frame until spring, when they can be planted. This is a quick way to increase stock.
An easier method is to sever the runners, which often develop from established plants. The plant itself, of course, may be divided in the spring.
How To Plant Anemones
Anemones should be planted in the spring in most localities to give them time to establish their root system before blooming.
In the first Autumn, one can expect only scanty flowering, if any. Two or three years will show better if they have found a suitable location to grow.
Anemones like partial shade (although they will grow in full sun) and soil rich in humus, well-drained but retentive of moisture. That one-word moisture is vital.
The ground should be well soaked frequently if the season is dry. A mulch of peat moss, leaf mold, or hay helps to conserve moisture.
If the plants are protected from high winds by a wall or hedge, they will stand up better in the Autumn storms, but they should not be crowded.
A protective mulch is advisable in winter to prevent alternate freezing and thawing.
When replanting the beds where well-established clumps of anemones are growing, it is best to dig around the plants without removing them.
The usual time for remaking gardens is just when these flowers are at their
Although plants, like chrysanthemums, may easily be lifted and replaced, think twice before taking up a handsome group of flowering anemones when in bloom.
Common Problems Of Anemones
Although root nematode attacks are sometimes harmful, a more common cause of complaint is the presence of the blister beetle.
This black beetle, sometimes striped gray, can quickly do a tremendous amount of injury to asters, clematis, and especially to Japanese anemones.
It appears in July, and if the plants are not sprayed or dusted, the beetle will completely defoliate them in a few days.
Probably, this insect is the cause of most failures with anemones. It is active when many people are on vacation; upon their return, it is too late to revive the plants for that season.
Doubtless, the plants will develop new leaves, though no flowers, and are so weakened that after two or three such attacks, they will succumb.
Although a stomach poison, arsenate of lead does not always give complete control.
DDT or a combination of rotenone-pyrethrum spray will be more effective.
Hand-picking is possible, but the insect drops to the ground very quickly and is easily lost.
The name blister beetle is derived from the fact that at one time in southern Europe, these insects (or a similar species) were ground up to make a blistering ointment from the substance, cantharidin, which is found in their bodies.
Fall-Blooming Anemones
Most nursery catalogs now list a half dozen varieties of fall-blooming anemones. In all, there is probably a score of kinds available. Those most readily obtainable are:
Anemone japonica from China is a stout branching plant to 3’ feet, with rose-colored flowers blooming in Sept. until frost.
Anemone japonica alba is the tall single white with golden stamens, striking in contrast with the pure white sepals (anemones have no true petals).
In the opinion of some, Whirlwind, semi-double white, now superseded by Marie Manchard.
This newer hybrid blooms somewhat earlier and has large flowers, freely produced.
It is not so tall growing in most gardens as the single white, although height varies with conditions.
For a similar location, Anemone hupehensis is valuable. This starts to bloom in August, with flowers of a mauve rose shade.
The form superba has larger flowers. It has been used in hybridizing to obtain the earlier blooming habit and lower stature of some newly named varieties.
Different Uses Of Planting Anemones
Besides the usual planting in borders and formal beds, anemones may be placed in front of shrubbery and along open woodland paths, always growing in uncrowded conditions.
Autumn crocus and colchicum planted nearby make good companions for the anemones in such locations.
In the garden proper, they may be grown near monkshood, Eupatorium, and nicotiana as they accept partial shade as happily as the anemones.
In sunnier spots, they bloom simultaneously as the Fall asters, chrysanthemums, and some of the blue sages.
As a cut flower, they last well when given the usual care, i.e., picked in the morning or evening and placed in deep water for a few hours before arranging.
When provided with abundant water and rich soil and protected from the ravages of the blister beetle, Japanese anemones will grow successfully and prove “the established maturity of the garden.”
44659 by Estelle L. Sharp