Anemone x hybrida 'BOWLES' PINK'

Japanese anemone and its hybrids are late flowering perennials, commonly grown for late summer and autumn display of flowers. There are many varieties offering white, light pink, dark pink, and even purple pink flowers atop stems of various heights. They are mostly considered shade loving plants, however, if grown in good, evenly moist soil they can thrive in full sun, too, especially white flowering plants which are less demanding for soil moisture. Anemone x hybrida is a garden cross between a. japonica and a. vitifolia.

Bowles‘ Pink is a hybrid Japanese anemone producing plentiful of medium pink, 5-petalled flowers atop medium tall stems. None of the aforesaid means that the variety would somehow be mediocre, quite the contrary. Its calm flower colour (not too light, not too dark) and about 40 cm tall stems (not too short, not too tall) make it a great combination plant for late summer and autumn perennial beds whom it will enrich with its beauty without clashing with other autumn flowers. Moreover, the reverse of the flower petals exhibits a combination of dark pink and light pink which looks impressive especially when the wind blows into the flower heads and they bend over. Each flower is decorated with a large crown of rich yellow stamens. Basal leaves are deciduous, palmate, dark green, sharply toothed, sparsely hairy beneath.

Edward Augustus Bowles (1865-1954) was a British botanist, traveller, and plant lover whose contribution to the world of plants is immense. He discovered and grew a large number of new and rare (then) varieties at the Myddleton House in Enfield, London, UK. He loved bulbs such as tulips and crocuses and in 2006, a long time after his death, a unique snowdrop variety was found on the premises, and 6 years later a single bulb was auctioned for £357 which was a record. Many plant varieties carry his name, such as one of his masterpieces Erysimum Bowles’ Mauve which was selected to belong among 200 best plants of the past 200 years, chosen by the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society of England) to mark its bicentenary in 2004.

Japanese anemones like moist, humus-rich, slightly acidic, and well-drained soil. When planted in full sun and if you live in area with cold winters make sure the plants are well mulched to keep the roots cool and away from dry frost. They prefer slightly drier conditions before flowering in early summer, as well as in winter. Anemones spread with aerial shoots which root easily so if you want to keep them in one place remove those shoots as and when they appear. Hardy to min. -29 °C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 20-10-2021