Anemone hupehensis Praecox

Japanese anemone 'Praecox' offers abundant pale pink flowering. This elegant perennial plant is a medium-sized variety, with long flowering from August to autumn, producing beautiful flowers on sturdy stems, with fully open corollas around a wide golden yellow stamen. It has undeniable charm and a simple beauty that complements other autumn blooms. It will thrive in full sun or partial shade, in moist and rich soil.

Japanese anemone 'Praecox' is a plant belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. It will reach 60 to 80 cm (24 to 32in) in height depending on the richness of the soil it grows in, with a diameter of 60 cm (24in). Like other Japanese anemones, it is a perennial plant with fibrous 'tubers' that form large, vigorous, and rounded clumps. The foliage is deciduous to semi-evergreen depending on the climate, deeply lobed, dark green, strongly veined on the underside, and hairy. The flowering period is from August to October, and it is particularly abundant. The flowers are solitary, carried on strong, upright stems. They first appear as delightful oval and fluffy buds, dark pink, then open up into simple yet charming cups. The golden yellow centre is densely filled with stamens. Japanese anemones can live for years in the same spot. Sometimes a bit invasive if it likes its environment, it is quite easy to control its growth.

The Anemone of Japan is one of the prettiest autumn flowers.  Light and graceful, it sways gently in the wind, indifferent to the first frosts. It decorates the garden or large pots on the terrace from the end of summer until the first frost. It can be combined with other late blooms such as Aster divaricatus, Aster novae-angliae or A. novi-belgii and their numerous varieties. It can also be paired with grasses with fine foliage for contrast, such as Carex sylvatica or Deschampsia caespitosa.