Mine are now spreading fast. Very well behaved, both the pink and white ones (in full sun,clay soil) about 8-10 years old. Last year they just seemed to go berserk. Elizabeth McGregor is a lovely lady and her nursery is fab. I bought White Swan from her about 8 years ago when we were up in Dumfries and Galloway on holiday. It sulked for quite a few years so I moved it last year into better soil but more sunshine which it appears to like so far. I wanted to plant a rose soon next door to my big pink clump but am a bit worried the rose won't cope with the invasive roots of the JA.
They are a nightmare in my garden. We have rich, loamy soil and I've been trying to eradicate them for 8 years (2 years after we moved in). Every year I have to dig them up which is OK while I am relatively fit. Year before last I didn't feel like tackling them and left them alone. What a mistake to make, I had a marathon job last year to dig them up. I know they will still rear their heads again this year. These are the pink common ones.
JA's and Wild Swan types have different root systems,never had any problem with the JA's but never could get Wild Swan to survive either in the garden soil or planted in pots,they threw a few flowers and then kicked the bucket, (I have spent a fortune on them!)
Different with Dreaming Swan flowered and grew all summer, I now have got some new ones Frilly Knickers for next year.
JA Whirlwind also is a disappointment, does not grow well and the flowers are usually distorted, must have been a funny plant!
I love them, they prefer the shade where we are, clay, improved with topsoil and compost, gets so dry in the summer, find they need a lot of watering and I wish they would spread
The Japanese anemones I have vary in their vigour. I have a lovely white Honorine Joubert which I would like to grow faster but it is very restrained, a Whirlwind which was slow to get going but is now starting to spread and September Charm, a pink single which is trying to take over the world. Our soil is a rich, light loam so probably ideal for them and although it might be easier to dig than clay it is still almost impossible to eradicate this anemone. The plant grows from the tiniest bit of root left behind and I have been trying to remove it from one particular area for a good six or seven years without compete success. This can be a very useful and beautiful plant for late summer and Autumn colour but watch where you put it because if it decides it likes the spot it may always be there. It even comes up between paving slabs.
Graham Stuart Thomas says about Anemone 'Honorine Jobert': 'It has taken over rather more of my garden than I planned, but it is so lovely that I cannot bring myself to dig any of it out.' So, a thug but a welcome one...
Also they flower for ages and are tolerant of dry shady spots. What's not to love?
As a follow up, the errant seedling on our side of the fence has not yet broken free it looks the same as it did when I posted in Dec last year. Let's see what happens over spri g n summer. I'll let you know
JA's and Wild Swan types have different root systems,never had any problem with the JA's but never could get Wild Swan to survive either in the garden soil or planted in pots,they threw a few flowers and then kicked the bucket, (I have spent a fortune on them!)
Different with Dreaming Swan flowered and grew all summer, I now have got some new ones Frilly Knickers for next year.
JA Whirlwind also is a disappointment, does not grow well and the flowers are usually distorted, must have been a funny plant!
I tried Wild Swan once and it died on me. But my neighbour has a lovely one in his front garden, it's really marvellous. I'll look out for Dreaming Swan.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
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Elizabeth McGregor is a lovely lady and her nursery is fab. I bought White Swan from her about 8 years ago when we were up in Dumfries and Galloway on holiday. It sulked for quite a few years so I moved it last year into better soil but more sunshine which it appears to like so far.
I wanted to plant a rose soon next door to my big pink clump but am a bit worried the rose won't cope with the invasive roots of the JA.
'It has taken over rather more of my garden than I planned, but it is so lovely that I cannot bring myself to dig any of it out.' So, a thug but a welcome one...
Also they flower for ages and are tolerant of dry shady spots. What's not to love?