Anemone 'Elfin Swan'

Anemone 'Elfin Swan': Small Swan, Big Season

Little white flowers that flash a violet-blue underside every time the wind picks up. 'Elfin Swan' is compact, long blooming and always keeping a secret. CHECK THE LINING.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Anemone hybrid ('Macane017')
• Common Name: Windflower, Hybrid Anemone
• Height: 35–40 cm (14–16 in)
• Spread: 50 cm (20 in)
• Flowers: Single, white with a golden-yellow centre and a violet-blue reverse
• Bloom Time: Summer to early fall (July to September)
• Foliage: Mid-green, lobed leaves in a low, rounded mound
• Features: Compact, long blooming

Where to Plant: Edge a path with it, tuck it into the front of a part-shade bed, or grow it in a patio container. Its small size suits city gardens where every square metre counts, and the white flowers brighten shady corners at dusk.

Companion Plants: Use 'Elfin Swan' at the front of a sunny or lightly shaded bed with bold reds and gold behind it. Paeonia 'Buckeye Belle' opens glossy deep red peonies at 60 to 75 cm in late May and early June. Monarda Sugar Buzz® 'Rockin' Raspberry' adds raspberry-purple bee balm at 40 to 60 cm in July and August. Rudbeckia 'Prairie Sun' brings big golden daisies with green eyes at 70 to 90 cm from July to October. Calamagrostis Hello Spring!® stands behind at 90 to 120 cm with cream-striped blades.

Plant Care: Plant in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. Add compost to clay or sandy soil. It does best with morning sun and some afternoon shade. In full sun, keep it watered during dry spells. Mulch in its first fall to help it through winter. Snip off spent flower stems to keep it looking fresh. Cut the foliage back in late fall or early spring. It spreads slowly, so dividing is rarely needed.

History: The Swan anemones were developed at Elizabeth MacGregor's nursery in Scotland and include the Himalayan species Anemone rupicola, which gives them coloured petal backs and a long season of bloom. 'Elfin Swan' is the dwarf of a group that began with 'Wild Swan', Plant of the Year at the 2011 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Final Thoughts: Tuck it at the front of a sunny bed or a part-shade path, and the bees will be on it all summer. SMALL SWAN, BIG ENTRANCE.