Anemone 'Dainty Swan'

Anemone 'Dainty Swan': Grace in Motion with a Late-Summer Blush

Anemone 'Dainty Swan' brings a touch of airy elegance to the late-season garden, with nodding white blooms kissed with mauve-pink on the reverse and accented by bright golden centres. These outward-facing flowers appear on arching stems from midsummer through fall, rising above rich green foliage in a display of gentle movement and long-lasting colour. Bred for strength and extended bloom, this cultivar offers refinement and resilience in equal measure—perfect for part-shade borders, soft planting schemes, and transitional garden designs.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 60–75 cm
• Spread: 45–60 cm, forming a well-shaped clump
• Flower Colour: White with mauve-pink reverse and golden-yellow centres
• Flowering Period: Midsummer to mid-autumn
• Foliage: Deep green, lobed leaves with a tidy, upright form
• Sunlight Requirements: Part shade; tolerates full sun with regular moisture
• Soil Requirements: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil; avoid dry or sandy sites

Uses and Benefits: 'Dainty Swan' is ideal for adding movement, elegance, and long-season interest to lightly shaded garden spaces. Its softly coloured flowers pair effortlessly with bolder late-season companions, while the sturdy stems ensure reliable performance without staking. A magnet for bees and a standout in romantic or naturalistic plantings, this anemone lends softness and vertical accent to borders transitioning from summer into fall.

Companion Plants: Pair 'Dainty Swan' with Aster oblongifolius 'October Skies'—its dome-like habit and lavender-blue blooms echo the anemone’s subtle blush while extending pollinator interest into late fall. Add Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' for warm golden tones and bold contrast. Finish the combination with Verbena bonariensis, whose tall, airy stems and violet blooms provide light movement and structure behind the soft flowers of 'Dainty Swan'.

Care Instructions: Grow in part shade with rich, moist, well-drained soil. Water during dry spells to keep plants thriving through bloom. Deadhead spent flowers for extended display or leave seedheads for texture. Cut back stems after frost. In colder regions, mulch in late fall to protect the crown. Divide every few years in early spring to maintain plant vigour.

History: Part of the Swan™ series bred by Elizabeth MacGregor in Scotland, 'Dainty Swan' was developed to offer earlier blooms, outward-facing flowers, and improved stem strength. With parentage from Anemone hupehensis and Anemone rupicola, it combines the grace of woodland species with the resilience of garden hybrids, earning its place in borders where beauty and long bloom are equally prized.

Final Thoughts: Anemone 'Dainty Swan' is a soft-spoken star—its delicate flowers and reliable performance making it an elegant anchor for late-summer gardens. Whether paired with asters, rudbeckias, or verbena, it creates a composition that moves gently through the season with lasting colour, structure, and charm.