Anemone Royal Pink - Japanese Anemone

The Anemone hybrid 'Royal Pink' is a recent variety of Japanese anemone whose single, bright dark pink flowers are borne on sturdy, medium-height stems from August to October. The floriferous, elegant and charming Japanese anemone sways its flowers in the gentle sun, in partial shade and even in shade, in fresh, humus-bearing, not-too-chalky soil.

Japanese anemone 'Royal Pink' is a particularly floriferous perennial belonging to the ranunculaceae family. Presumably resulting from the cross-breeding between Anemone vitifolia, of Himalayan origin, and Anemone hupehensis, native to central and western China, this variety reaches 70 cm (28in) high with a diameter of 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20in). Like other Japanese Anemones, it is a perennial plant with fibrous 'tubers' that form large, vigorous and rounded clumps. The foliage is deciduous to semi-evergreen in winter depending on the climate, highly divided, dark green, strongly veined on the underside, and hairy. Flowering takes place from August-September to November with solitary flowers on sturdy, thin and straight stems. They first appear as delightful, oval and fluffy, purple buds, then open into slightly loose, flared cups. They are deep pink with a wide crown of yellow-orange stamens. The edge of the petals is edged with white on this variety. Japanese anemones can live for decades in the same location.

Japanese anemone is reliable and robust, and its flowering lasts for several weeks, until the first cold weather. The larger varieties are perfect at the back of a border, combining elegant flowering with the grace of Aster cordifolius 'Blue Heaven', and the nostalgic charm of perennial chrysanthemums. The 'Royal Pink' variety is ideal in the middle of a border as well as in a pot on the terrace. In late summer, accompanied by Sedums, Gauras, Echinaceas and a few clumps of grasses, it enlivens a natural border. It can be invasive and easily self-seeds. It is quite easy to limit its spread.

Several dozen perennial or bulbous species with very different needs and behaviours make up this genus. They all have a touching simplicity that makes them charming and indispensable in a garden. Cultivars derived from A. h. var. japonica have many more petals than the species.