Secrets of successfully growing Japanese anemones outdoors

Description of Japanese anemones

The herbaceous perennial belongs to the Buttercup family and is found throughout the temperate climatic zone. For late flowering, which lasts from July to October, Japanese anemone is also called autumn. Thanks to the creeping root system, the plant grows very quickly, forming a bright flowering cover.

Depending on the variety, the anemone grows up to one and a half meters, forming small bushes with erect, medium-leafy shoots. The leaf plates are oval, feathery, dissected, emerald green in color. Inflorescences are umbellate, loose, up to 9 cm in diameter, outwardly reminiscent of chamomile. The structure of the baskets is simple, semi-double or double. The color is varied, but always with a golden or yellow-green heart.

Popular varieties of autumn anemone with photos

Due to the large number of artificially bred hybrids, it is sometimes very difficult to understand which variety a cultivar belongs to. Some biologists believe that the Hubei (Anemone hupehensis), Japanese (japonica) and hybrid (hybrida) are one and the same species. To understand a little about the differences, consider a few of the most famous varieties.

Crispa

Hubei anemone 0.6-0.7 m in height blooms from August to October. Baskets of simple structure, consisting of one row of slightly corrugated petals. Unlike the Praecox hybrid (Precox), which has a more saturated color, Crispa has a pale pink, with a pearl tint and a yellow-lime core.

Pretty lady julia

This anemone with semi-double inflorescences looks similar to the Prinz Heinrich or Pamina varieties. It grows up to 0.5-0.6 m, forming compact loose bushes. The petals, like those of Prince Henry or Pamina, are painted in a monochromatic pink-crimson hue. Flowering lasts from the second half of summer until the first frost.

Whirlwind

A culture with lush white inflorescences, consisting of 10-15 semi-double flowers. The height of the bush does not exceed one meter, the leaves are dark green, with a bluish tint. The color of the petals is uniform, without blotches, the core is bright yellow. The variety is winter hardy, grows best in partial shade.

Honorine jobert

An unusually gentle anemone up to 0.8 m high. The leaves are dark, with a grayish tint. Baskets are simple in structure, consisting of one row of slightly wavy petals. The color is one-color, snow-white, the core is yellow-orange. The cultivar grows well in the sun, but prefers shaded areas more.

Robustissima

Beautiful felt anemone belongs to tall varieties. The height of an adult bush can reach more than one meter. The leaves are dark emerald, covered with fine hair below.The inflorescences are simple, small, lilac-pink color, with a dark orange "eye". Outwardly, Robustissima resembles a dahlia Funny guys.

Video "Planting and growing anemones in the garden"

This video discusses the basic rules of crop farming.

Growing and caring for an anemone in the garden

Japanese anemone is an unpretentious culture. She tolerates winter well, is not demanding to care for and adapts well to external conditions. However, so that the decorative qualities of the plant do not suffer, and it itself pleases with abundant flowering, it is necessary to observe the agrotechnology of growing in the open field.

Landing dates

It is best to plant late-flowering plants in the second half of spring or early summer. The bushes will have time to throw out the buds, which will bloom by the end of August. The perennial can also be planted in the fall. However, this must be done early so that the young plant has time to adapt and does not freeze out.

Site and soil selection

Autumn anemone feels comfortable in shaded areas, does not like direct sunlight and drafts. Since the culture has a creeping root system, the distance to other plants should be at least half a meter. A place is chosen that is not subject to stagnation of moisture, however, a hill for anemones is also not suitable.

Perennial grows well in nutritious, drained soils with good penetrating ability. The reaction of the soil can be neutral or slightly acidic (the acceptable pH level is 5.5 to 7.5).

Planting anemones with tubers and seeds

The landing site is prepared in advance. The earth is dug up, and then weeds, small debris and stones are removed. Humus, peat, wood ash are added to the soil, mineral fertilizers are added if necessary. Dig holes 15x30 cm in size with an interval of 0.5 m from each other. During the planting of tubers, the following algorithm is followed:

• planting material is soaked in warm water for four hours;
• fill the pots with a soil mixture of peat and sand, where the tubers are placed to a depth of 50 mm;
• when the first shoots appear, the anemone is transplanted to a permanent place;
• after planting, the soil is lightly crushed and well moistened.

Another way to grow Japanese anemones is by seeds. It consists of the following stages:

• a month before the thaw, the seed is placed in moist, loose sand for several days;
• when the seeds are swollen, they are sown in a container filled with peat;
• until the first shoots appear, the container is kept at room temperature, and then taken out into the street, sprinkled with snow and sawdust;
• landing at a permanent place is carried out after the establishment of stable warm weather.

Seasonal care

Since the superficial root system of the anemone is not able to get moisture from the lower layers of the soil, the ground around the plant must be constantly moistened. Watering frequency for an adult plant is once a week. With prolonged absence of precipitation or intense heat, the frequency is doubled. So that moisture does not stagnate, and the soil remains wet for a longer time, a mulch layer is laid on top.

For the entire season, the culture is fed three times:

• in the spring, after the appearance of the first leaves, humus or other organic fertilizers are applied;
• during budding, mineral compositions are used;
• in the first half of autumn, fertilized with complexes without nitrogen or wood ash.

Reproduction methods

Autumn anemones tolerate transplantation and any interventions in the root system very poorly. You can grow a perennial from seeds, but this method is not suitable for hybrid forms.Most often, growers propagate the culture vegetatively, by dividing the bush. They do this in the spring so that the plant has time to adapt before winter. The mother bush is carefully dug out, trying not to damage the roots, and then divided into small sockets. Places of cuts are treated with an antiseptic, after which they are deposited in a permanent place.

Wintering plants

In regions with mild snowy winters or in the south, the Japanese anemone winter calmly without additional shelter. Preparation for the cold season begins at the end of flowering, cutting off all the shoots almost to the base. The soil around is fertilized with humus and watering is stopped.

In regions with harsh winters, cut bushes are covered with dry leaves, peat or humus. Some gardeners recommend covering the plant with spunbond on top.

Protection against diseases and pests

With proper care, late-flowering anemones rarely get sick. Most often, the culture is affected by fungal infections if it grows in groups. It is better to dig up and burn an already infected bush, and spray the neighboring plants with a solution of "Fundazol" or "Fitosporin". For prevention, it is enough to adhere to the irrigation scheme, weed weeds in time, and also treat with fungicides.

Sometimes snails or caterpillars appear on flowers. If there are not too many pests, they can be removed mechanically. Otherwise, irrigation with insecticides such as "Aktara" or "Aktellik" will help. Opponents of chemicals can spread ground egg shells, red peppers or dry needles under the bushes.

Often anemones suffer from nematodes. Treatment with nematicides (for example, "Nematodos") will help to exterminate the parasites. You can also plant calendula or nasturtium nearby, which effectively repel roundworms.

It happens that anemones stop blooming. If the problem is not with disease or pests, then the crop is most likely lacking light or suffering from a lack of nutrients.

Japanese anemone in landscape design

Autumn anemones are able to decorate any part of the garden. Decorative perennials can be planted in various variations:

• tapeworms;
• curb landings;
• group compositions;
• mixborders;
• for the decoration of alleys, paths or arbors.

Despite the narrow color palette, Japanese anemone goes well with almost all garden plants.

To emphasize the individuality of each culture, landscape designers advise such neighbors for anemone:

• junipers, thuja or cypresses;
• ferns;
• roses;
• ornamental shrubs.

Delicate, in oriental graceful Japanese anemones appeared not so long ago in Europe, but have already managed to occupy their niche in the local gardening. Despite their fragile appearance, perennials are quite stable and unpretentious, which makes them the favorites of middle lane flower growers.