How To Grow Japanese Anemones

Japanese Anemones, Windflowers, Anemone tomentosa, Grapeleaf Anemones, Anemone x hybrida

Native to China, Anemones have been cultivated in Japan for centuries. They consist of the species Anemone hupehensis, Anemone hybrida, Anemone tomentosa, and Anemone vitifolia, as well as their subspecies and cultivars. Most of the current cultivars are attributed to Anemone hupehensis and Anemone hybrida.

Well suited for borders, cottage gardens, coastal gardens, or naturalized areas such as prairies or meadows, Japanese Anemones bring life to the late summer garden and persist in contributing to the crescendo of fall.

Japanese Anemones thrive in partial shade. However, please note that too much shade can result in leggy plants that flop over more readily. Full sun is tolerated as long as the soil is kept moist.
Japanese Anemones perform best in rich, humusy, evenly moist, well-drained soils. When planting them, add garden compost or aged manure to the soil, and do not let it dry out.
Avoid excessive winter wet. Add mulch each season to maintain soil moisture, keep weeds away and ensure winter survival in cold winter areas.

Guide Information

Hardiness	4 - 8
Heat Zones	5 - 8
Climate Zones	2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type	Perennials
Genus	Anemone
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest	Summer (Mid, Late) Fall
Soil Type	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Landscaping Ideas	Beds And Borders

Anemone hupehensis ‘Praecox’ (Japanese Anemone)

Anemone x hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ (Japanese Anemone)

Anemone x hybrida ‘Serenade’ (Japanese Anemone)

Japanese Anemones can take 1 to 2 years to establish, but once they do, they can spread rapidly by rhizomes and happily naturalize to form colonies. The more sun they get, the faster they spread. While their rhizomatous habit may be desirable in larger landscapes, they may out-compete other surrounding herbaceous plants. Fortunately, removing any unwanted sprouts is easy.
Though they may appear delicate, these long-lived perennials can survive with minimal maintenance once established. Very attractive as cut flowers, Japanese Anemones enjoy a good resistance to most insects and diseases and are salt tolerant. They attract butterflies but are deer and rabbit resistant.

Anemone ‘Dreaming Swan’ (Japanese Anemone)

Anemone x hybrida ‘Rosenschale’ (Japanese Anemone)

Anemone x hybrida ‘Whirlwind’ (Japanese Anemone)

Plant them in spring after all danger of frost has passed, until early fall.
Japanese Anemones may require division every 3 years if grown in sun but as seldom as once a decade if grown in shade.
Propagate by division in early spring or fall, or propagate by root cuttings.
Cut back in late fall
Eating may cause stomach upset and skin contact may cause mild irritation.

Anemone hupehensis ‘Bressingham Glow’ (Japanese Anemone)

Anemone hupehensis ‘Pocahontas’ (Japanese Anemone)

Anemone x hybrida ‘Königin Charlotte’ (Queen Charlotte)

Click here to compare all Anemone varieties

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While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.