Japanese Anemone

Anemone × hybrida

This non-native can become aggressive, although it generally doesn’t stray very far.

So why include it?

• It blooms well in fairly dark shade. It’s favorite condition is “bright shade” under pruned up deciduous trees and tall shrubs, but it flowers pretty much anywhere.

• It is very drought tolerant - after a coule of years you don’t need to worry about it at all. It grows very deep thick roots that will find water well below the surface.

• Pollinators love its open flowers on wiry stems - especially butterflies.

• It blooms in August. The unacknowledged truth is that unless you are fanatic about watering and deadheading, August is a pretty dull month. There are some native exceptions and fall plants are getting revved up, but the heat and lack or rain convince other plants to pack it in for the year. Japanese anemone start their show during this lull.

Don’t get the double flowered hybrids - they are less pollinator friendly and they can be too heavy for their stems. There are shorter hybrids, but these are at their best when they are floating well above the foliage. Some of the more intensely colored hybrids are great. Some aren’t.