Anemone hybrida Serenade

The Anemone × hybrida ‘Serenade’ is a Japanese anemone remarkable for the abundance and duration of its flowering. Its double flowers in a fresh pink with a golden-yellow heart follow one another from late summer to mid-autumn, on sturdy stems that withstand rain and wind well. Shorter than many other Japanese anemones, this vigorous variety finds its place in English-style, romantic, cottage, or Japanese-inspired gardens, always in partial shade. It is a robust perennial and easy to grow. Its flowering stems also make it possible to create charming late-summer cut flower arrangements.

This herbaceous perennial of the Ranunculaceae family dies back in winter, then new shoots emerge from its rootstock in spring. Long sold under the name Anemone tomentosa ‘Serenade’, it is now classified among the hybrids derived from two Asian species, Eriocapitella japonica and E. vitifolia. Its current botanical name is Eriocapitella × hybrida ‘Serenade’. The plant develops from shallow, fibrous rootstocks. It first forms a compact clump, then spreads fairly quickly once well established. Its basal foliage reaches 30 to 40 cm in height. The dark green leaves, slightly villous on the underside, are divided into three lobed, dentate segments and form a dense mass from spring onwards. In late summer, branched stems rise to 60-80 cm; they can reach 1 m in rich, deep, consistently moist soil. The plant spreads over 60 cm to 1 m and can go further if left to propagate. The rounded flower buds open into cups of 6 cm in diameter, gathered in loose clusters. Each flower has 10 to 15 narrow petals that overlap around a small greenish centre holding a fine cluster of yellow stamens. Their colour ranges from fresh pink to lavender pink depending on the light. The particularly long flowering renews itself from August to October and can last nearly nine weeks in good conditions. Very hardy, ‘Serenade’ withstands the winters of continental climates. It tolerates clay or lime-bearing soil, provided water does not stagnate around the rootstock in winter.

Plant the Japanese anemone 'Serenade' in groups of three to five young plants in a partially shaded border, in front of deciduous shrubs or at the edge of a light woodland. It forms a beautiful duo with the ‘Whirlwind’ anemone, with its semi-double white flowers. It can also be paired with Actaea simplex ‘Brunette’, Tricyrtis hirta ‘Miyazaki’ and Astrantia major ‘Star of Billion’. These perennials all appreciate partial shade and soil that retains moisture in summer. Its flowers are delightful in fresh bouquets mixed with the small white stars of the ‘Monte Cassino’ aster, which flowers at the same time; the stems are cut when the first buds begin to open.

For your winter bouquets, do not hesitate to cut and place in a vase the stems bearing the seed capsules that appear dry: after 2 hours at room temperature, you will see pure white aments appear.