Anemone hupehensis September Charm

Anemone hupehensis 'September Charm' is perhaps the most graceful of all and undoubtedly the most famous of Anemone hupehensis. It owes this to its vigour and floribundity, as much as to the charm of its subtly fragrant large flowers with tones of pink mother-of-pearl, which appear in late summer. This robust variety slowly but surely spreads and discourages weeds while filling the space with beautiful dark green clumps for 8 months out of 12. In summary, this carefree perennial brings a wonderful charm to shady and somewhat cool areas of the garden, without requiring much maintenance or gardening knowledge.

Japanese anemone 'September Charm' is a perennial herbaceous plant with fibrous and wandering roots and a woody stump. It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. It is a descendant of Anemone hupehensis, native to central and western China. This ancient variety has been rewarded by the Royal Horticultural Society for its ornamental qualities and its performance in the garden. It reaches approximately 1m (3ft) in height when flowering and forms broad clumps of at least 60cm (24in). The foliage persists in winter depending on the climate. Very fluffy when they unfold, the dark green leaves are divided into 5 lobes, which are palmate, strongly veined on the underside, and covered with small hairs.

The particularly abundant flowering takes place from August-September to October. The large flowers, 6 to 8cm (2 to 3in) in diameter, are carried by sturdy, slender and straight branched stems. They first appear as oval and fluffy buds in a somewhat greyish pink, then open into slightly loose flared cups composed of a row of 5 petals. Their colour is a fresh mauve pink, shaded with a slightly deeper pink on the reverse and in the centre, around a large crown of yellow stamens. Japanese anemones can live for about ten years in the same place.

A vigorous plant when grown in suitable conditions, Japanese Anemone 'September Charm' thrives in cool, light and humus-rich soil. It tolerates brief drought episodes and can withstand non-burning sun. It thrives in semi-shaded or light sun situations such as at the base of trees, on the edge of undergrowth, or at the back of borders where it forms magnificent colonies. You can plant it alongside persicarias, cimicifugas, and perennial geraniums. In late summer, it also accompanies large asters, rudbeckias, hydrangeas, or shade-tolerant shrubs such as sarcococca. Sometimes invasive if it likes its environment, it readily self-seeds. Fortunately, it is quite easy to limit its development.

Its stems are ideal for winter bouquets. Cut stems bearing the dry-looking seed capsules and put them in a vase; white catkins will emerge after 2 hours at room temperature.