Anemone Fall in Love® 'Sweetly' – 'Sweetly' Japanese Anemone

'Sweetly' Anemone is a perennial that brings a touch of grace and a fresh wave of colour to the end of the gardening season. The unique charm of this variety from the Fall in Love® series lies in its abundant flowering and its ability to establish itself to form rich, flowering colonies. It offers a show of deep pink flowers at a time when most other perennials have finished their performance, thus extending the garden's beauty into the heart of fall.

Characteristics

• Foliage: It develops a mound of deciduous, dark green foliage. The deeply cut leaves form a dense and attractive base for the flower stems.
• Flowering: From late summer to mid-fall, tall, slender stems rise above the foliage. They carry numerous semi-double, rich, deep pink flowers surrounding a center of bright yellow stamens.
• Light: It thrives in full sun or partial shade. In very hot climates, light afternoon shade is beneficial.
• Habit: It forms a bushy clump that spreads gently to form a beautiful colony. The flower stems are straight and airy.
• Growth: With a medium growth rate, it reaches a height of 50 to 65 cm (20-26 inches) in bloom, with a similar spread.
• Soil: It grows best in rich soil, amended with organic matter, that stays moist but well-drained.
• Hardiness: Very hardy, it faces Zone 4 winters without any problem.
• Resistance: This robust plant resists White-tailed deer and rabbits very well.

Uses

• Types of Use: It is perfect for the middle of the border, light woodland gardens, or cottage-style gardens. It is magnificent in mass plantings to create a carpet of late-season flowers.
• Ornamental Features: Its flowers bring essential colour to the fall garden. Graceful and delicate, they dance above the foliage in the wind and make excellent cut flowers.

Care

• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially the first year and during dry spells. A mulch will help keep the soil cool.
• Fertilizing: Incorporate compost into the soil at planting. A spring application of a balanced fertilizer is sufficient.
• Pruning: No pruning is required during the season. Cut the foliage and stems back to the ground in late fall or early spring.
• Planting: Plant it in a location with good drainage, especially in winter. It sometimes takes a season to establish well before it begins to spread.
• Winter Protection: No protection is required for this hardy perennial, but a mulch of fallen leaves can help young plants.