I bought my first Japanese Anemone, when my first born was just a toddler. Of course it had to be an Anemone (hupehensis) Prince Henry in honor of my son. This heirloom plant is also known as ‘Prinz Heinrich’ and is a winner of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.

Prince Henry has deep rose-pink double flowers that about 3-4 inches across and sort of star shaped. The dark, divided vine-like leaves grow in a lush mound that can spread two or three feet across with the 18” flower stems waving out of the center. The branching stems of poppy-like flowers are superb for cutting.

This beautiful fall bloomer has withstood hot summers with little rain and horrible freezing winters without enough ground cover. I’ve split it numerous times to gift to friends and family, and it just seems to make more “babies.”

It’s not picky about full sun or partial shade and I’ve planted it in super heavy clay without missing a season of gorgeous, very fragrant flowers. According to the literature it will also tolerate normal, sandy and wet soil. It is just super easy to care for.

It’s perfect for a cottage garden as it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. It is rabbit and deer resistant is rarely bothered by pests.

The leaves blacken in winter, so I trim back in the Fall and then clean-up dead stuff in the spring. Any empty spots are quickly filled. Don’t worry I wouldn’t consider this to be invasive.

Transplanting is best done in the spring, but these plants are so hardy I’ve been pretty loose with this rule.

I got my original plant from Bluestone Perennials nearly 30 years ago.