Anemone ‘Wild Swan’ (Japanese Anemone)

A fairly new introduction that is already incredibly popular, award-winner Anemone ‘Wild Swan’ produces masses of large, pure white flowers, 3-4 in. across (7-9 cm), with attractive lavender-blue bands on the reverse of their petals. Opening throughout the day, the elegant flowers close to bells with a beautiful nodding habit in the evening and early morning. Enjoying an exceptionally long flowering season, ‘Wild Swan’ blooms continuously from late spring until frost as a result of its parentage which includes a few different early- and late-blooming Anemone varieties. The flowers are gracefully carried on wiry stems above the deeply divided, dark green foliage, dancing and swaying in the breeze. Low care and well-behaved, ‘Wild Swan’ stays where you plant it and does not invade its neighbors as can happen with Japanese Anemones.

• One of the longest-blooming perennials in the garden, it provides weeks of color, from late spring through fall.
• Winner of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year Award in 2011, awarded ‘Best of Show‘ of all the new introductions at Farwest Show in Portland OR., this plant typically grows up to 16-24 in. tall (40-60 cm) and spreads via rhizomes to 18-24 in. (45-60 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.