Anemone hybrida Snow Angels

The Anemone 'Snow Angels' is a new variety of Japanese anemone, absolutely delightful, both floriferous and of modest size, well suited to small spaces. Its semi-double flowers with slightly incised petals open abundantly, revealing a pretty yellow centre, from the month of August. The charm of this perennial cannot be ignored: it enlivens borders and flower beds until autumn like few plants can, even in shade or woodland areas.

The hybrid Japanese anemone 'Snow Angels' is a herbaceous perennial belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. This very recent selection is derived, among others, from Anemone hupehensis, native to central and western China. This compact variety will reach approximately 50 cm (20in) in height when in bloom depending on the fertility of the soil it grows in, with a diameter of 45 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 in winter depending on the climate, highly incised, dark green, strongly veined on the underside, and hairy. The flowering period extends from August to October. The numerous semi-double flowers are borne on sturdy, slender, and erect stems, tinged with purple-violet. They first appear as delightful, oval and fluffy, pale brown-pink buds, then open into wide, shallow cups, composed of a double row of broad, incised petals. Each flower opens to reveal a large crown of yellow stamens. Japanese anemones can live for decades in the same location.

Japanese anemones are among the most beautiful flowers of autumn. Light and graceful, they sway gently in the wind, indifferent to the first frost. They decorate the garden or large pots on the terrace from late summer until the first frost. Perfect in the back of a border for larger varieties, they blend their elegant blooms with the grace of Aster cordifolius, and the nostalgic charm of perennial chrysanthemums. The 'Snow Angels' variety, with its compact growth, is perfect in the foreground of borders, paired with small ferns, or in front of a hedge of hydrangeas and spindles, for example. The finely incised foliage of anemones adds a beautiful dark green touch to flower bouquets. Sometimes invasive if it finds favourable conditions, it easily self-seeds, although not always true to type. It is quite easy to control its growth.

This genus is composed of several dozen perennial or bulbous species with very different needs and behaviours. Cultivars derived from A. h. var. japonica have many more petals than the type.