The nice-guy anemone

IF I was to recommend planting autumn anemone to any gardener, I would be met with a look of disgust as they immediately conjure the thug that is the pink Japanese variety.

Twelve years ago, Elizabeth MacGregor, who runs a nursery in Scotland, spotted an anemone with very different characteristics among a batch of seedlings. It showed real, hybrid vigour and had elegant, white flowers, 7-9cm across, held well above attractive green foliage.

‘Wild Swan’ as it is now called, has lilac-blue bands on the reverse of the petals and, at twilight, closes to a nodding lilac-blue and white bell. It flowers continually from late May until the first frosts, usually in November.