Windflower (Anemone × hybrida 'Königin Charlotte' QUEEN CHARLOTTE)
Anemone × hybrida 'Königin Charlotte' QUEEN CHARLOTTE (Windflower) is a late-blooming perennial showing semi-double pink flowers. Easy care, Zones 5-8.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Anemone × hybrida ‘Königin Charlotte’ QUEEN CHARLOTTE is a highly valued herbaceous perennial, widely known as the Windflower, bringing sought-after color late in the growing season. This Japanese anemone hybrid offers dependable performance, featuring lovely semi-double pink flowers atop graceful stems when many other perennials are finishing their display. Gardeners rely on the hardiness and relatively low maintenance of this selection to enhance fall borders.
This cultivar is prized for its ability to naturalize gracefully by spreading rhizomes, creating colonies over time in ideal settings. While generally robust, successful cultivation of Anemone × hybrida ‘Königin Charlotte’ QUEEN CHARLOTTE requires attention to moisture retention, as it absolutely detests drying out, particularly during hot summers. Its late-season bloom period makes it an indispensable ingredient for extending visual interest until frost approaches.
This Windflower cultivar typically matures at about 3 feet tall, showcasing dark green foliage as a backdrop to its airy pink blooms. It offers excellent aesthetic value for perennial groupings, providing height and movement in mixed plantings that transition beautifully into the cooler months.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Ranunculaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 2-3 ft
- Spread: 2-2.5 ft
- Bloom Time: August to September
- Bloom Description: Pink
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Establish Anemone × hybrida ‘Königin Charlotte’ QUEEN CHARLOTTE best during the growing season in sites providing organically rich, humusy, and well-drained soil. These plants perform excellently in full sun but require part shade if summer conditions are intensely hot, as foliage is prone to burning in dry, sunny exposure. Ensure the soil remains consistently moist; the greatest cultural requirement for this Windflower is avoiding dry spells, especially in the heat of summer.
Maintenance is generally low once established, fitting well into relaxed garden schemes. Plants benefit from protection against strong winds, which can batter the taller stems. Avoid planting in areas with wet, heavy soils, especially heading into winter, as poor drainage can cause rot.
For added protection in colder reaches of USDA Zones 5 and 6, apply a winter mulch once the ground freezes. Establishment can sometimes be slow, but given optimal conditions, Anemone × hybrida ‘Königin Charlotte’ QUEEN CHARLOTTE will efficiently spread via rhizomes, fulfilling its naturalizing potential. Propagation is most effectively done via root cuttings taken in winter or by spring division.
Landscape Uses
The extended bloom time of Anemone × hybrida ‘Königin Charlotte’ QUEEN CHARLOTTE makes it an excellent fall bloomer in the garden structure. It excels when used in mixed perennial borders where its height and airy structure can provide vertical interest among shorter foreground plants. Furthermore, its naturalizing habit makes it perfect for filling in woodland garden settings or cottage gardens seeking a rambling, informal look.
When massed together, these Windflowers create a significant sweep of pink color that signals the change of seasons. For structured contrast, pair the dark green foliage and graceful stems of Anemone × hybrida ‘Königin Charlotte’ QUEEN CHARLOTTE with substantial companions like hostas, which appreciate similar moisture levels, or astilbes, which offer contrasting textures and often share the preference for some afternoon shade. Placing them where they receive morning sun avoids the worst of the summer heat stress.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Good Cut
Noteworthy Characteristics
Anemone × hybrida, commonly called windflower or Japanese anemone, represents a category of hybrids blooming late summer into fall with typically pink or white flowers. ‘Königin Charlotte’ is a somewhat compact, clump-forming Japanese anemone hybrid cultivar that reaches 3 feet tall, defined by its large (3” diameter), semi-double, pink flowers borne on long, wiry-but-graceful stems above mounds of deep green foliage. This variety naturalizes by root runners, slowly expanding its presence in the garden.
Tolerances
- Deer
Potential Problems
Gardners should monitor Anemone × hybrida ‘Königin Charlotte’ QUEEN CHARLOTTE for airborne fungal issues prevalent in humid conditions, including leaf spot, powdery mildew, downy mildew, rust, and leaf/stem smut. Insect pests such as caterpillars, slugs, and nematodes can sometimes cause cosmetic damage. In areas where they are prevalent, black blister beetles and Japanese beetles might defoliate the foliage quickly. Taller stems benefit from staking or support if planted in excessively windy sites or if the stand becomes too dense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Windflower suitable for?
Anemone × hybrida ‘Königin Charlotte’ QUEEN CHARLOTTE is suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 8.
How large does Anemone × hybrida ‘Königin Charlotte’ QUEEN CHARLOTTE grow?
This variety typically reaches a height between 2 and 3 feet, with a spread of 2 to 2.5 feet at maturity.
When does Windflower bloom?
This Windflower blooms reliably from August into September, featuring soft pink flowers.
What sun exposure does Anemone × hybrida ‘Königin Charlotte’ QUEEN CHARLOTTE need?
It prefers full sun to part shade; however, in hotter climates, part shade protection is recommended to prevent foliage from scorching.
Conclusion
The Anemone × hybrida ‘Königin Charlotte’ QUEEN CHARLOTTE Windflower is an essential late-season superstar, offering much-needed pink color and low maintenance care through early fall. Its ability to naturalize slowly while tolerating deer makes this cultivar versatile for many garden styles. Before planting, confirm your site offers rich, moist soil and plan for some afternoon shade if you reside in the warmer end of its hardiness range.
Companion Planting
Selecting companions for Anemone × hybrida ‘Königin Charlotte’ QUEEN CHARLOTTE involves matching its cultural requirements for consistent moisture and preference for slightly protected sites. Plants that thrive near astilbes and hostas, as mentioned in its uses, are excellent partners due to shared needs for rich soil. Consider ferns or other shade-tolerant groundcovers for the base layer, which helps keep the soil cool and moist, benefiting the Windflower’s shallow roots.
For late-season color contrast, pair the airy pink blooms with sturdy, late-flowering goldenrods (Solidago cultivars) that prefer sharp drainage but can coexist near the slightly damper edge of the planting area, or use deep purple Sedum varieties that offer textural ballast near the clump-forming anemone.
Design Ideas
Use the Airiness of the Structure to Create Movement. Since Anemone × hybrida ‘Königin Charlotte’ QUEEN CHARLOTTE blooms on wiry stems, utilize dark, bold foliage plants nearby to anchor the view and make the delicate pink flowers appear to float. This contrast works beautifully in woodland edge designs or cottage gardens where vertical elements are desired late in the season.
Focus on mass planting where possible. Grouping three, five, or seven rhizome-spreading plants together encourages self-thinning and provides a more significant visual impact when the August bloom begins. This technique best capitalizes on its capacity to naturalize without looking overly formal.
