Anemone hybrida Fantasy Cinderella

Anemone x hybrida Fantasy Cinderella is a small Japanese anemone that stands out for its rounded and compact habit, particularly suitable for container gardening, and shows excellent performance in borders and flower beds. It forms a lovely bush covered with single flowers, which are bright medium pink in colour with a gold centre. These last until late in the season. This perennial plant possesses an indefinable charm, which complements the exuberant flowering of asters and silver foliage so well. It will thrive in full sun or partial shade, in a moist and rich soil.

Japanese anemone 'Fantasy Cinderella' is an especially floriferous perennial, belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. Descendant of Anemone hupehensis, native to central and western China, this low and compact variety will not exceed 40 cm (16in) in all directions. Like other Anemones Japonica, it is a perennial plant with fibrous 'tubers' that form large, vigorous and rounded clumps. The foliage of this variety is particularly healthy and disease-resistant. It is deciduous to semi-evergreen depending on the climate, deeply cut, dark green, strongly veined on the underside, and hairy. The flowering takes place from August-September to November. The flowers are solitary, borne on sturdy, slender and upright stems. They first appear as delightful oval and fluffy buds, pink in colour, then open into shallow cups.  Their colour is a very fresh mauve pink, surrounding a wide crown of yellow stamens. Japanese anemones can live for about ten years in the same location.

The Japanese anemone is one of the prettiest autumn flowers. Light and graceful, it sways gently in the wind, unaffected by the first frosts. It decorates the garden or large pots on the terrace from late summer until the first frosts. Perfect at the back of borders for the larger varieties, it blends its elegant flowers with the grace of Aster cordifolius or Aster laevis, and the nostalgic charm of perennial chrysanthemums. The Fantasy Cinderella variety is perfect in the centre or along the edge of a border, among seaside cinerarias and silver artemisias, in front of a hedge of hydrangeas and spindle trees. Finally, the finely cut foliage of anemones adds a beautiful dark green touch to flower bouquets. Sometimes invasive if it is happy, it easily self-seeds. Fortunately, it is quite easy to control its growth.