Anemone hupehensis Crispa

Anemone hupehensis Crispa or Lady Gilmour is a variety of Japanese Anemone whose origin is not clearly established and can be found under both names. It has an astonishing crisped, ruffled foliage with red edges, reminiscent of curly parsley or kale!  Its pink flowers with yellow centres have 12 narrow, slightly twisted petals, which are slightly disheveled. Carried by a robust plant with slender but sturdy stems, flowers bloom from late summer until autumn. Slightly less wandering than its relatives, this compact selection is nonetheless vigorous. Plant it in cool, humus-rich soil, not too chalky, even in shade or under trees.

The Crispa or Lady Gilmour Japanese Anemone is a particularly floriferous perennial belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. A descendant of the Anemone hupehensis, native to central and western China, this variety reaches 60cm (24in) in height at maturity with a diameter of 50 cm. Like other Japanese Anemones, it is a perennial plant with fibrous 'tubers' that form large, vigorous, and rounded clumps. The dark green foliage is deciduous to semi-evergreen depending on the climate, and the leaves are composed of three leaflets with crimped, ruffled, red edges. Flowering occurs in August and September. The flowers are solitary, carried by strong, slender and straight stems. They first appear as delightful oval and fluffy buds, pink in colour, then open into flared cups, slightly loose, with slightly twisted pink petals, around a crown of yellow-orange stamens. Japanese anemones can live for decades in the same location.

Japanese anemones is one of the most beautiful autumn flowers. Light and graceful, it sways gently in the wind, unaffected by the first frosts. It decorates the garden or large pots placed on the terrace from late summer until the first frost. Perfect in the back of a border for the taller varieties, it blends its elegant flowering with the grace of Aster cordifolius or laevis, and the nostalgic charm of perennial chrysanthemums. Perfect in the centre or on the edge of a border, in front of a hedge of hydrangeas and spindle trees. Sometimes invasive if it is happy, it self-seeds; a little less easily in this variety. It is quite easy to limit its development.

Several dozen perennial or bulbous species with very different needs and behaviours make up this genus. The decorative flowers sway gently in the wind, offering an animated simplicity that gives them their charm and makes them essential in a garden.