Anemone x hybrida ‘Serenade’ (Japanese Anemone)

Vigorous and charming, Anemone x hybrida ‘Serenade’ produces masses of semi-double, rosy pink flowers with 10 to 15 narrow, overlapping tepals surrounding a globe-like center of golden yellow anthers. The flowers are gracefully carried on wiry stems above the deeply divided, dark green foliage, dancing and swaying in the breeze. Tall, it has strong stalks that are less susceptible to flopping. This Japanese Anemone has been rated as a superior variety in the Chicago Botanic Garden’s 2004 Fall Blooming Anemones evaluation.

• One of the longest-blooming perennials in the garden, it provides weeks of color, from late summer through fall, when many other perennials are starting to fade.
• This Japanese Anemone typically grows up to 36-40 in. tall (90-100 cm) and spreads via rhizomes to 2-3 in. (60-90 cm).
• Mixes beautifully with ornamental grasses or any other perennial plants. Well suited for borders, cottage gardens, coastal gardens or naturalistic areas such as prairies or meadows.
• Very attractive as cut flowers, it has a good resistance to most insects and diseases. Attracts butterflies but is deer and rabbit resistant!
• A full sun or part sun lover, it enjoys rich, humusy, evenly moist, well-drained soils. Do not let the soil dry out! Provide some wind protection. Add winter mulch in cool winter areas. This plant will happily naturalize to form colonies!
• Salt tolerant
• Eating may cause stomach upset and skin contact may cause mild irritation.

Native to China, Anemones have been cultivated in Japan for hundreds of years. Growing to 4 feet (120 cm), they produce single, semi-double or double blooms in shades of pink and white on slender, graceful stems in mid-late summer and early fall. Though they may appear delicate, these long-lived perennials can survive with minimal maintenance once they are established. Deer resistant, they are a popular choice for borders or as specimens in home gardens.