Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert'
Common name: Japanese anemone, windflower
Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert' is an herbaceous perennial in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). It has an elegant, upright growth habit. This plant adds late-season interest to the garden, blooming from late summer into fall.
The flowers, which sit atop long, wiry stems, open from round, pinkish buds that mature into pure white blooms with green centres surrounded by a ring of golden stamens. The leaves are concentrated near the base of the plant. They are dark green, trifolate, and lightly covered with fine hairs.
A. x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert' thrives in rich, organic soil that drains well. It doesn't like dry soil or waterlogged conditions. A. x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert' grows from creeping rhizomes that can be somewhat aggressive, but unwanted plants can easily be pulled up or dug out.
A sport of Anemone x hybrida, A. x hybrida ' Honorine Jobert' was discovered in Verdun, France in 1858. This cultivar was named for the daughter of its discoverer, M. Jobert, a French nurseryman. It became a favourite for its luminous blooms and tall, elegant habit. It is a staple in part-shade borders and woodland settings.
A. x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert' was awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1993. It was also selected as the 2016 Perennial Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association.
Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert' can be found in the Japanese Collection and in the Woodland Garden.
Text and photos by Kumi Sutcliffe