Photo credit: www.gardenista.com
Japanese Anemone, A. hupehensis: “Daughter of the Wind”
In a somewhat uninspiring section of my garden, the atmosphere transforms as September arrives. It is during this month that the lovely Japanese anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’ reveals its stunning pearl-like buds, foreshadowing a breathtaking display of white blossoms that sway gently atop slender, delicate stems. The striking feature of these flowers lies in their eye-catching centers, characterized by vibrant green seed heads encircled by a cluster of orange-yellow stamens.
Interestingly, despite their name, Japanese anemones are not originally from Japan. Rather, they trace their roots back to China. This article explores their journey to gardens in Brooklyn and beyond:
Photography by Britt Willoughby Dyer for Gardenista.
European plant explorers first encountered these windflowers in Japan, where they had been cultivated by local gardeners for countless years. Over time, the anemones propagated into the wild, resulting in their naturalization. The Europeans referred to these plants as Anemone japonica.
Currently known as Anemone hupehensis, or Chinese anemone, this plant is indigenous to the Hubei province in eastern China. It was first documented by Victorian plant collector Robert Fortune, who found it flourishing in a Shanghai cemetery and brought it to Europe in 1844.
Among the over 120 species of Anemone, Anemone hupehensis stands out as a perennial that typically reaches heights between 2 to 4 feet. Unlike some of its relatives that reproduce through tubers or rhizomes, this species features fibrous roots that can extend and propagate via underground stems, allowing it to thrive in diverse environments and adding a touch of elegance to any garden setting.
Source
www.gardenista.com