Anemone
Anemones belong to the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) and form a large group of perennials widespread in the temperate and subtropical zones of the Northern Hemisphere. The genus was scientifically described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 and is popular for its colorful flowers and abundant blooming at various times of the year. Below is a simplified classification of the most important species based on their flowering period:
I. Spring Anemones - These bloom from March or April. This group includes:
• Anemone nemorosa - from Europe and western Asia, with white flowers.
• Anemone ranunculoides - from Europe and western Siberia, with yellow flowers.
• Anemone blanda - from the Balkans, Turkey, and the Caucasus, offering blue, white, or pink shades.
• Also blooming in late spring is the garden hybrid Anemone × lesseri, a cross between the European A. sylvestris and the North American A. multifida, flowering in May and June in white, pink, or red.
II. Large-flowered Tuberous Anemones
• Anemone coronaria from the Mediterranean and the Middle East, which blooms in May and June when planted in spring, or as early as March in protected conditions when planted in autumn.
• Anemone hortensis from southern Europe, blooming in April and May.
• Anemone apennina from the Apennine Peninsula, with blue flowers blooming in March and April. These species are mostly grown as annuals in our region.
III. Autumn Anemones - Often referred to as Japanese anemones. The main species are:
• Anemone hupehensis from China.
• Anemone japonica (hybrid amenone) developed from Asian species.
They all bloom from August to October and offer white, pink, purple, or red flowers.
The Swan Series
This is a separate group of modern hybrids created by crossing Anemone rupicola from the mountainous regions of Central Asia with Anemone hupehensis from China. They begin blooming as early as June and continue until October or November. The flowers are white on the front and bluish-purple or pink on the reverse. They are bred in Scotland by Elizabeth MacGregor with her husband Alasdair and Christopher Ian Grey-Wilson, a British botanist and wild plant specialist. Current cultivars include:
• WILD SWAN – the original and most well-known variety with large flowers and a long blooming period.
• DREAMING SWAN – with a soft lavender hue and semi-double flowers.
• DAINTY SWAN – pinkish reverse and darker stems.
• ELFIN SWAN – the most compact, suitable for smaller gardens and containers.
• RUFFLED SWAN – taller and more vigorous, with semi-double ruffled petals and a striking two-tone effect.
Description of the plant
ELFIN SWAN™ anemone forms a compact clump approximately 35–45 cm tall, under ideal conditions yet some 20-30 cm taller, from which sturdy, upright, and delicately branched stems emerge. Its single flowers are 4–6 cm in diameter, pure white on the front and strikingly bluish-purple on the reverse, typically with 6–8 petals and a yellow center of stamens. The leaves are medium-sized, deep green, deeply palmately lobed, and coarsely toothed at the edges. They form a dense basal foliage that enhances the bicolor effect of the flowers and adds ornamental value even outside the blooming period – which is almost a contradiction, as this anemone can bloom from June all the way into autumn under favourable conditions. It is considered the most compact of the entire Swan series and is protected by the U.S. Plant Patent PP30,496, granted in 2019.
It excels in the front sections of mixed perennial borders, where its compact habit allows the white flowers with bluish-purple undersides to shine above the darker foliage of surrounding plants. In light partial shade under trees or taller shrubs, it creates a regular rhythm of blooms from June to October, beautifully complementing other long-flowering perennials such as geraniums. It pairs well with the contrasting foliage of many heucheras and is also striking when combined with ferns or tiarella. Let your imagination run wild: plant dark-leaved heuchera on one side and a golden-leaved variety of hakone grass on the other, and you’ll have a true spectacle!
Growing conditions and care
It thrives best in a location with well-drained, humus-rich, and evenly moist soil, ideally in partial shade where it is protected from harsh midday sun. It can tolerate full sun if adequately watered, and in light shade under trees or shrubs it maintains its compact shape and abundant flowering. Regular watering during dry periods is essential, especially in the first years after planting, along with occasional feeding with compost or fertilizer for flowering perennials. Removing spent flower stems continuously encourages new bud formation and extends the blooming period. It is fully hardy to approximately −34 °C (USDA zone 4), so it does not require winter protection in most conditions. However, in areas with bare frosts, a light mulch of leaves or evergreen branches is appreciated, and year-round bark mulch helps prevent rapid drying.
Last update 07-09-2025
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