Pretty in Pink
More than a month after its first bloom, the Japanese anemone 'Robustissima' (Anemone tomentosa) is still going strong on this last summer day in my Hamptons garden. With significant buds remaining, I should enjoy blooms for at least a few more weeks. Its soft pink flowers perfectly suit the quieter tone of the autumn garden.
While many of my flowering plants have ignored their customary bloom period this year, this Japanese anemone has performed exactly as planned, providing late season color near the house.
And long before its wiry flower stems began to rise up in August, this late-flowering perennial created a nice ground cover with crisp green foliage that resembles grape leaves. Before it blooms, clusters of ball-shaped buds top the 38" to 48" stems, delivering a beautifully exotic prelude.
Two-year-old grouping knitted together nicely
Japanese anemones like moist, somewhat rich soil in full to partial sun. They can spread aggressively by underground roots once established so give them room or divide them regularly. The tall stalks may need staking which I usually do with dead branches for a more natural-looking support.
Although blooming relatively at the same time, there are many Japanese anemone cultivars from which to choose. From single petal blossoms, like 'Robustissima', to semidouble flowers. The color options range from white to deep pink. And while I generally like more uncommon cultivar choices not easily found locally, I chose large-potted 'Robustissima' at a local nursery one day needing a little instant gratification.
Speaking of shopping for anemones, let me provide you with the correct pronunciation to help prevent some of the confusion and embarrassment that I endured. The latin pronunciation is \ə-ˈne-mə-nē\ not \ˈan-ə-mōn\as I mistakenly requested all over the Hamptons. Of course, if you go shopping locally for them now, they should be standing tall in bloom so you could also just point when asked what you're looking for.
Exotic buds provide a beautiful prelude