Anemone Dreaming Swan - Japanese Anemone

The 'Dreaming Swan' Hybrid Anemone is a variety quite similar to the 'Ruffled Swan' Japanese anemone, but its growth is more compact and its flowers show marked dimorphism depending on whether they appear in spring or summer. The first ones are simple pale pink corollas, then they fade when the semi-double, bicoloured flowers appear, white with a deep blue-violet reverse. The show starts in late spring, continues into summer, and accompanies the arrival of autumn. This magical plant is also an excellent vigorous and floriferous perennial, which proves to be prolific without being invasive. It prefers mild sun or partial shade, and moist soils even in summer.

The 'Dreaming Swan' Anemone is an herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. More precisely, it is a variety belonging to a series of hybrids called 'Swan', of which the flagship 'Wild Swan' received an award at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. This Japanese Anemone, likely resulting from a crossbreeding between Anemone rupicola and A. hupehensis, is a new playful creation full of charm and surprise. Earlier than most Japanese anemones, its flowers bloom from June-July onwards.

A highly hardy perennial plant, it grows from fibrous tubers and forms large, vigorous, and rounded clumps over 40 cm (16in) in diameter, over time. 'Dreaming Swan' bears stout and erect flower stalks that reach 45 or 60 cm (18 or 24in) in height. The flowers measure 8 to 9 cm (3 to 4in) in diameter and have slightly crumpled petals. The peculiarity of its flowering lies in the fact that the flowers produced in late spring are very different from those that appear later in the season. From a distance, the semi-double flowers appear very pale mauve, then as you get closer to the plant, the different colours become very distinct. It has lovely dark green foliage, composed of three lobed leaflets, which serves as a backdrop and disappears at the first frost. Japanese anemones can live for about ten years in the same spot.

Very easy to grow, this Japanese anemone likes partial shade and rich, moist soils, with a neutral to acidic tendency. 'Dreaming Swan' thrives in light and humus-rich soil. It tolerates brief episodes of drought and withstands morning sun, but fears scorching rays. Ideally, it should be planted at the edge or in the background of a border, for example, to be able to walk around the plant and enjoy the different white-blue-purple colours. Persicarias, cimicifugas, and shade-loving perennial geraniums make good companions for this surprising variety.