Japanese anemones
Anemone hupehensis sin. Anemone japonica

All varieties and hybrids of Anemone hupehensis, a species which in nature is common in central and western China and in Japan, are known as Japanese anemones.

The leaves are rather large, a light-green color, thick and shiny, and form low and dense bushes; at the end of summer straight and rather thin stems, not very branched, sprout from the bushes carrying several flowers with a yellow or white center and 5-6 wide petals, of all shades from white to bright pink. The stems are 60 to 90 cm tall, depending on the variety.

During autumn, with the arrival of cold weather, the plant loses its aerial part, which will reappear the next spring. This plant is very easy to grow, and tends to spread a lot, blooming more intensely starting from the second year after bedding.

To obtain strong growth it is advisable to cut the plant at its base after the flowers have withered.

Exposure: these anemones grow best in sunny spots, even if they do not dislike half shade, especially during the hottest times of the year. The flower stems should be protected from the wind which could ruin them. These plants do not fear neither cold weather nor intense heat.

Watering: the plants do not need too much watering, and withstand brief periods of drought without problems; usually rain is enough, but it is better to water them during particularly dry periods from March to October; during the winter the plants are in vegetative rest and hence do not need to be watered. In spring provide granular low-release fertilizer for flowering plants.

Soil: Japanese anemones prefer rich and well-drained soil, very loose and soft. However, they bloom abundantly and develop vigorously also in sub-optimal conditions, such as dry soil with scarce nutrients. Before bedding them it is advisable to work the ground and mix it with aged manure and soft soil.

Propagation:anemone bushes are easy to divide, in spring or autumn, to obtain new plants that can be bedded directly. Non-hybrid varieties can also be propagated through seeds at the end of the summer. Young plants need to be bedded at least a year after germination, to prevent them from being ruined by the winter when they are still too delicate; it is also possible to sow them directly in their bed at the beginning of spring: they will bloom the following spring. In any case, before sowing it is advisable to keep the small seeds in the fridge for 5-6 weeks.

Parasites and diseases: anemones are rarely attacked by parasites and diseases.

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