This is a subscriber-only article
The name windflower is derived from the Greek word “anemone” which means the same thing. There are many kinds of windflower, most of which flower in spring, but the plant the flowers at this time of year is the Japanese windflower, or Japanese anemone.
The flowers are carried on tall, slender stalks and are very easily seen from a distance, thereby giving them the ability to make an impact in any bed or border in autumn.
With variation between varieties, the height can range from 80-100cm, often growing taller if the site conditions are good and if competition from nearby plants, such as shrubs, is significant.
The Japanese anemones bring a note of freshness to summer borders that might be tiring somewhat and it is a real signal plant of the early autumn season.
The pea-sized flower buds are arranged in uneven whorls near the top of the stalk and they open in sequence over many weeks.
When the flower petals fall, the seed head obliges by also being of rounded shape, so the whole structure fits together nicely, never losing its remarkable grace.
The foliage is vine-like and somewhat rough in appearance for such a graceful flower. But it stays below knee-height and therefore is not much seen. It has the advantage of being evergreen which is always a bonus with a perennial flower since it provides some bulk at soil level in winter, and it resists weeds very well, old plants surviving in neglected gardens long after most other plants have given up the ghost.
For general use, it is a plant most suitable for use in a country garden because of its colour, elegance, natural appearance, and robust constitution.
The foliage is vine-like and somewhat rough in appearance for such a graceful flower
The ordinary pink form, Anemone x hybrida, is the most widely grown. It was a hybrid between a Chinese species and a Japanese species during the last century and it quickly became popular.
It is easily grown from divisions of the roots or even bits of the suckering roots. Named selections have been bred over the years.
One of the most striking is ‘Hadspen Abundance’ with deep raspberry-red colour, a much richer colour than the common pale pink.
The petals have an edging in pinkish white which serves to highlight the raspberry colour and set the plants off from a distance.
A similar rich smoky pink colour is carried by ‘Prinz Heinrich’, a lovely variety with semi-double flowers by comparison with the singles.
Lovely pale colours have been selected too. ‘September Charm’ has pale pink flowers with a touch of cream, larger than the common form and with slightly more cupped petals. A bit darker, though still pale, is ‘Konigin Charlotte’ with a shading of purple-pink rather than the soft salmon pink. It has more petals also, giving it a fuller look.
The white form is truly beautiful – clear white flowers held against silvery flower buds, over dark green foliage and with a lively golden yellow eye at the centre of the flower. The most common white variety is ‘Honorine Jobert’, an old variety.
The Japanese anemone fits in fine with shrubs, being vigorous and tolerating some light shade
Very similar with larger flowers is ‘Luise Uhink’, although the petals hang back off the flower and are not as attractive as the somewhat more cupped shape of ‘Honorine Jobert’.
Any of these varieties, and others offered for sale, can be planted in a flower border or mixed border. The Japanese anemone fits in fine with shrubs, being vigorous and tolerating some light shade. It can be placed on its own to fill an awkward corner admirably and deal with whatever competition comes its way.
Planted with shrubs around, or equally robust perennials, it will not be a problem with spreading. And if it does turn out to be somewhat over-enthusiastic, then the surplus growth can be easily chopped away with a spade in spring, a small price to pay for such an easy-to-grow and beautiful flower.
The summer pruning of fruit trees can still be carried out as there is at least two months of growing season left.
The pruning of fruit trees, apples, pears and plums, is a good way to reduce the vigour of these fruits. There has been a lot of vigourous growth this summer on fruit trees, especially some young plum trees. Too much vigour means lots of new shoots and leaves at the expense of fruit.
For apples and pears, the shortening back of the strong new shoots to three or four buds, or the complete removal of a proportion of them, is adequate.
Young plum trees can have long shoots shortened by half. The usual practice is to begin removing these shoots from mid-summer, generally between mid-July and early September.
Trees, shrubs and roses
There has been very strong growth of trees this summer and the routine check for stem constriction by tree ties on young trees is all the more necessary. Plastic ties can cut into the stem of young trees and cause severe damage. Secondary growth, or Lammas growth, appeared as early as the first week of June.
Flowers
Take cuttings of tender plants such as marguerites, fuchsias and argyranthemums to carry over winter before the end of the month. Continue feeding all kinds of containers, and watering too. Stay on top of weeding in flower beds and borders and prevent weeds from going to seed now. Collect seeds of perennial flowers.
Lawn
Lawns have seen exceptionally good growth this summer after the early summer threatened drought. They are still growing well and probably benefiting from the natural release of nitrogen in the soil due to the breakdown of organic matter that occurs during a warm wet spell, and are also benefiting from nitrogen released by lightning.
Greenhouse and house plants
Tidy up plant debris from the greenhouse, and be careful not to overwater or to splash water about because, from now on, grey mould disease becomes a problem. Continue watering and feeding greenhouse plants. Continue to train and side-shoot tomatoes and cucumbers. Take the top shoot off tomato plants if not done.
Fruit, vegetables and herbs
Raspberry canes that have finished fruiting should be pruned out and the new canes tied into position. If there are too many canes, reduce the number to about 10 or 15 per metre of row. Sow winter lettuce and spring onions. Do not let weeds go to seed. Remove apples or pears attacked by wasps to avoid even more damage.
SHARING OPTIONS: