Dry weather and shorter days take a toll on perennials by late summer.  Many plants look tired and worn, and most of the flowers are spent.  Very little in the garden reminds you of the vivid greens and verdant splendor of summer.

An exception is the Japanese anemone whose 3” pink flowers dance on the September breezes.  Fall blooming anemones are a last glimpse of summer garden glory before the fall asters’ and sedums’ blooms signal Wisconsin gardeners that frost is just around the corner.

The rosy flowers pictured above are hybrid anemones, crosses of several Asian species (white-flowered varieties are also available).  Their airy 30-inch stalks produce between 15 and 20 flower stems with three to seven flowers on each. The plants grow best in moist, rich soil and should be sited where they receive dappled sun or morning light only. 

Like spring snowdrops (Anemone sylvestris) and meadow windflowers (Anemone canadensis), Japanese anemones produce underground runners and may be vigorous spreaders.  Weed out any unwanted plants in the spring, removing the roots as well as the foliage.  The runners aren’t difficult to unearth.

Japanese anemones provide a wonderful transition between the summer coneflowers and rudbeckias and the frost-friendly asters, mums and sedums.  Make room for this often overlooked choice for your late summer shade garden.