Contact: Julie McCaffrey (847) 835-8213, direct jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org		For Immediate Release

Glencoe, Ill. (February 4, 2005) – The Chicago Botanic Garden is releasing results of a six-year comparative study of fall-blooming anemones (Anemone) in its 25th issue of Plant Evaluation Notes: “Fall Blooming Anemones.”

Fall-blooming anemones are harbingers to summer’s end, blooming as early as July through November, filling the gap as warm season plants fade and fall standards come into their own. Commonly called windflowers or Japanese anemones, though they are native to China, fall-blooming anemones include Anemone hupehensis, A. x hybrida, A. tomentosa and A. vitifolia. The clump-forming plants have dark green leaves and 2- to 3-inch flowers held on wiry stems. Colors range from pure white to dark pink and purple. Flower forms vary from single to semi-double and double.

Fall-blooming anemones prefer moist, well-drained alkaline soils in light to medium shade. Full sun is not an issue in soils that stay moist. They can out-compete smaller herbaceous plants in close quarters, but can be easily removed due to their shallow fibrous roots. Despite their tendency to spread, anemones are not considered invasive in the Upper Midwest.

Diseases generally do not affect fall-blooming anemones, but foliar nematodes occasionally afflict their foliage. Although it can give a virus-like appearance to the foliage, the damage usually is not widespread and does not appear to affect the overall health and performance of the plants. All cultivars of fall-blooming anemones are equally susceptible to infestation.

The Chicago Botanic Garden evaluated 26 commercially available Anemone taxa in its Shade Evaluation Garden. Nearly half the anemones received overall ratings of good or higher. The three highest rated varieties were cultivars of Anemone x hybrida, including: ‘Andrea Atkinson’, ‘Max Vogel’ and ‘Serenade’. ‘Andrea Atkinson’ grew to nearly 3 feet tall, featuring clear white flowers with five to 10 relatively broad tepals encircling a creamy yellow center. Its average bloom period was 64.7 days. It had no hint of winter injury and maintained three healthy plants for the duration of the trial.

‘Max Vogel’ and ‘Serenade’ have similar pink flowers with 10 to 15 narrow, overlapping tepals surrounding a yellow, globe-like center of anthers. Both selections had bloom periods averaging more than 60 days and exhibited vigorous growth and strong stalks that were less susceptible to flopping. ‘Max Vogel’ grew 43 inches tall and maintained an upright, clumped habit. ‘Serenade’ grew to 24 inches tall and exhibited greater ground cover potential with its spreading habit.

The lowest ratings were given to plants that died out in the first two years of the trial and were not retested. These included A. x hybrida ‘Alba’; A. x hybrida ‘Avalanche’; A. x hybrida ‘Lady Gilmour’; A. x hybrida ‘Loreley’; and A. tomentosa ‘Alba’.

The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Plant Evaluation Notes provides the latest information on plant species suited to the midwestern climate and growing conditions. Cost is $3 per copy. To obtain Issue 25, “Fall Blooming Anemones,” write to the following address:

Plant Evaluation Notes
c/o Richard Hawke
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Road
Glencoe, IL 60022

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Editors, please note: The Chicago Botanic Garden’s newsroom is online at www.chicagobotanic.org/pr. For digital images, contact Julie McCaffrey at (847) 835-8213 or at jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 23 distinct display gardens surrounded by lakes, as well as a prairie and woodlands. With events, programs and activities for all ages, the Garden is open every day of the year, except Dec. 25. Admission is free; select event fees apply. Parking is $15; free for members. On Tuesdays, senior citizens age 62 and older pay just $7 for parking. The Garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Ill. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org, or call (847) 835-5440 for seasonal hours, images of the Garden and commuter transportation information.

 The Chicago Botanic Garden is owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society. It opened to the public in 1972 and is home to the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, offering a broad array of adult classes in plant science, landscape design and gardening arts. The Center for Teaching and Learning brings the wonder of nature and plants to children, teens and teachers. Horticultural Therapy and Community Gardening provide nationally recognized community outreach and service programs. Through the Institutes of Plant Conservation and Ornamental Plant Research, Garden scientists work on plant conservation, research and environmental initiatives that have global impact. The Chicago Botanic Garden is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). In 2006, the Chicago Botanic Garden received the Award for Garden Excellence, given yearly by the APGA and Horticulture magazine to a public garden that exemplifies the highest standards of horticultural practices and has shown a commitment to supporting and demonstrating best gardening practices.