Japanese anemone with white flowers: 10 varieties to discover

Anemone 'Honorine Jobert', the must-have

The Japanese anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’ remains the star of white anemones. An old variety, it has proven itself and gardeners are enchanted. It is exuberant in size, reaching over 1.20 m in height, and its flowering continues to flourish from August to October. Its single flowers, a pure white with a hint of pink on the reverse, contrast beautifully with the golden yellow stamens at the centre and the dark green foliage.

Japanese anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’

Use its subtle whiteness to brighten a partially shaded corner of the garden or place it in an English border with shades of purple alongside asters like ‘Pink Star’ or ‘Little Carlow’, roses such as ‘Comte de Chambord’ or ‘Ghislaine de Féligonde’, and some sedums in the foreground like ‘Herbstfreude’ or ‘Meteor’, accompanied by hardy geraniums of the varieties ‘Rothbury Gem’ or ‘Spessart’. Butterflies and other pollinating insects will appreciate this border of melliferous plants!

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The 'Whirlwind' anemone, height in the garden

This perennial plant is covered in double white flowers with slightly pink revers and discreet yellow stamens. ‘Whirlwind’ is an old variety that stands out with its tall stems over 1.20 m, bearing numerous frilled flowers from August to October.

Japanese anemone ‘Whirlwind’

Typical of cottage or church gardens, dare to grow this white Japanese anemone in a pot or container on a balcony or terrace. Position it at the back with a stake to prevent the stems from bending under the wind’s pressure. On either side, plant some Chinese fountain grasses, and to create a cascading effect, place a variegated ivy like ‘Marginata Elegantissima’ in the foreground. If your container is very large, add some heathers to create a generous autumn display.

The anemone ‘Dreaming Swan’, a long flowering

Very similar to the variety ‘Fuffled Swan’, ‘Dreaming Swan’ is a new variety that bears white flowers with pale pink backs in spring, which give way, in summer, to semi-double white flowers with a bluish reverse. You can enjoy it from the first sunny days until the first autumn frosts. Of medium height, about 60 cm, this anemone has its place in borders composed of bushes and perennials. With ‘Dreaming Swan’, you will cultivate charm with a long floribundity.

Japanese anemone ‘Dreaming Swan’

Use its whiteness to bring contrast to a foliage border between a Fatsia japonica and a Japanese maple with purple leaves like Acer palmatum ‘Ornatum’.

The anemone ‘Andrea Atkinson’, refined flowers

This is an improvement of the ‘Honorine Jobert’ anemone, more floriferous. With its flower spikes over 1.20 m tall, ‘Andrea Atkinson’ is showcased at the back of a border or along a wall. Late-flowering, it adorns itself with small single white flowers featuring a yellow centre from mid-summer to autumn. Like its relatives, it prefers a semi-shaded location and fresh soil.

Japanese anemone ‘Andrea Atkinson’

This variety is perfect in a mixed border with Echinaceas of varying heights, Callistephus chinensis with colourful pom-poms, cosmos for their airy flowering, and Chinese fountain grasses for a graphic touch. In addition to enjoying spectacular blooms, you can create cut flower arrangements to brighten your home.

The anemone 'Snow Angels', a purity

New variety, the anemone ‘Snow Angels’ is unique with its semi-double flowers featuring finely cut petals, in pure white with golden stamens at the centre that contrast beautifully with its deep green foliage. Reaching a height of 50 cm, it is perfectly suited for small spaces and container growing. This perennial anemone offers a bright flowering display from August until the first autumn chills.

Take advantage of its small size to grow it in a large container on a terrace. Place a clump of Imperata ‘Red Baron’ in the centre, then on either side, a clump of anemone ‘Snow Angels’. In the foreground, play with ‘Variegata’, ‘Everillo’ or ‘Evercream’ sedges, followed by winter heathers. You will be able to enjoy your autumn composition for many years to come!

Japanese anemone ‘Snow Angels’

Anemone 'Tiki Sensation', an early perennial

‘Tiki Sensation’ is a highly floriferous variety. Its double, frilled flowers start off a soft pink and turn white as they bloom, from July to October. They take on pink hues again when the coolness returns to the garden. The flower stems reach about 90 cm, making ‘Tiki Sensation’ a perfect perennial for designing the back of a border.

Japanese Anemone ‘Tiki Sensation’

Showcase this anemone in a border with grey-blue tones. Place it in the centre and surround it with hostas such as ‘Blue Angel’, ‘Halcyon’, or ‘Fragrant Blue’, and pair it with ground-cover plants like lamium ‘Pink Pewter’ to green the edges of the border. The white flowers of the anemone will contrast beautifully with the foliage tones.

Discover perennials with grey or silver foliage.

The anemone ‘Pretty Lady Maria’, very floriferous

The anemone ‘Pretty Lady Maria’ is a reliable choice that thrives both in borders and containers. With a height of 50 cm, it maintains a compact habit of stems that bear single white flowers at their tips. Enjoy its flowering from August to November.

Japanese anemone ‘Pretty Lady Maria’

Plant the anemone ‘Pretty Lady Maria’ alongside other plants to create a vibrant autumn border. It will appreciate the company of asters in a variety of hues and chrysanthemums with diverse forms to bring warm colours to the garden at the end of the summer season.

The ‘Elfin Swan’ anemone, with a compact habit

Here is a very compact Japanese anemone, reaching no more than 40 cm in height. ‘Elfin Swan’ flowers from July to October. Its long flowering period is a real asset. Its icy white flowers, with a blue-violet reverse, appear bicoloured depending on how they are viewed and the play of natural light.

Japanese anemone ‘Elfin Swan’

Why not use this compact anemone to create flowering pathways to trace a path? Mixed with hardy geraniums sanguineum, ‘Sirak’ or sylvaticum ‘Album’ and ‘Snowbird’ gaura, you will line stunning pathways with romantic hues.

The 'Wild Swan' Anemone: A Unique Addition to the Garden

The anemone ‘Wild Swan’ closely resembles the varieties ‘Elfi Swan’ and ‘Dreaming Swan’. They share the same flower colour, white with a purple reverse, and a height that does not exceed 60 cm. This variety is early-flowering, with the first blooms appearing as early as June and continuing until October.

Japanese anemone ‘Wild Swan’

Utilise its abundant flowering to fill space in a groundcover bed exposed to partial shade with Naples cyclamen, ferns such as polypodium or polystichum, and dwarf asters. The flowers of this anemone also have the advantage of closing at the end of the day, revealing the delicate purple of the petal reverses.

The 'Ruffled Swan' anemone, an early flowering.

‘Ruffled Swan’ is the result of a cross-breeding between anemone rupicola and hupehensi, notable for its white flowering with mauve-blue undersides. It produces long flower spikes reaching 75 cm in height, adorned with semi-double flowers that light up the garden from June until the first autumn frosts. The white colour varies with mauve, depending on the exposure and the gardener’s position.

Japanese anemone ‘Ruffled Swan’

You can grow it in a monochrome white bed, paired with ‘Avalanche’ rudbeckias or ‘Virgin’, along with grasses such as stipas or calamagrostis to enhance the graphic effect.

For further reading

• Find more combinations with Japanese anemones in our dedicated advice sheet: Japanese Anemones: 8 Ideas for Successful Combinations.
• Once you have selected the white-flowered varieties of Japanese anemones, let our comprehensive guide lead you: Japanese Anemones: Planting and Care.