Anemone hupehensis var. japonica Alando Rose

This Anemone displays single deep, vibrant pink cup-shaped flowers on tall stems. They gently sway on slender but sturdy stems from late summer to autumn. The elegance of this perennial is matched by its blooms, which will brighten up the garden with its delightful flowers, even in shade or woodland. To be planted in cool, humus-rich soil, that is not too chalky.

Japanese anemone 'Alando Rose' is a particularly floriferous perennial belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. Presumably resulting from the cross-breeding between Anemone vitifolia, of Himalayan origin, and Anemone hupehensis, native to central and western China, this fairly large variety reaches a height of 90 cm depending on the richness of the soil it grows in, with a diameter of 50 to 60 cm. 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, highly dissected, dark green, strongly veined on the underside, and more or less hairy. The flowering takes place from August-September to November. The flowers are solitary, carried by strong, slender, and upright stems. They first appear as delightful oval and fluffy buds, pink in colour, then open up into slightly loose, flared cups. Their colour is a bright pink with a wide crown of yellow-orange stamens. The petal edges are margined with white in this variety. Japanese anemones can live for decades in the same location.

The Japanese anemone is one of the loveliest autumn flowers. Light and graceful, it gently sways in the wind, indifferent to the first frosts. It decorates the garden or large pots on the terrace from late summer to the first frost. Perfect at the back of a border for the larger ones, it blends its elegant flowering with the grace of Aster cordifolius such as Aster cordifolius 'Blue Heaven', and the nostalgic charm of perennial chrysanthemums. The Alando Rose variety is perfect in the center of a border, in front of a hedge of hydrangeas and spindle trees for example. Finally, the finely dissected foliage of the anemones adds a beautiful dark green touch to flower bouquets. Sometimes invasive if it likes its surroundings, it easily self-seeds. It is quite easy to limit its spread.

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.  Cultivars derived from A. h. var. japonica have many more petals than the type.