Anemone ‘Dreaming Swan’ – Graceful Blooms for Late Summer Colour

The Anemone ‘Dreaming Swan’ is a delightful perennial that brings elegance and long-lasting colour to borders and beds. A sport of the popular ‘Wild Swan’, this variety is celebrated for its semi-double, white blooms that are gently brushed with soft lilac on the petal undersides. From July through October, its flowers appear in abundance, standing tall on wiry stems above clumps of deeply divided green leaves.

As the petals move in the breeze, the lilac undersides catch the light, creating a shimmering two-tone effect that adds subtle charm and sophistication to the garden. Reliable, hardy, and easy to grow, ‘Dreaming Swan’ is perfect for mixed borders, cottage gardens, or naturalistic planting schemes where its relaxed beauty can shine.

General Information

Part of the Japanese anemone family, Anemone ‘Dreaming Swan’ is renowned for its long flowering period and elegant blooms.

• Habit: Clump-forming perennial with upright flowering stems.

• Height & spread: Typically grows 60–80cm tall and 45–60cm wide.

• Foliage: Dark green, deeply divided leaves form a neat clump at the base.

• Flowers: Semi-double white blooms, with lilac-lavender undersides that create a soft two-tone effect; golden-yellow centres add warmth.

• Flowering season: Exceptionally long, from midsummer (July) into autumn (October).

• Position: Best in partial shade, though it will tolerate full sun if soil is moist.

• Soil: Prefers fertile, moist but well-drained soil; dislikes dry or very thin soils.

• Hardiness: Fully hardy across the UK and Ireland.

• Uses: Perfect for borders, cottage-style gardens, wildlife-friendly planting, or as a feature in shaded beds.

Its elegant blooms, combined with strong stems and reliable performance, make it one of the finest perennials for adding interest late in the season when many other flowers have faded.

Care Guide

Anemone ‘Dreaming Swan’ is a tough perennial that requires little more than the right soil and positioning to thrive.

Planting

• When to plant: Best in spring or autumn when the soil is moist and temperatures are mild.

• Depth & spacing: Plant at the same depth as in the pot; space 45–60cm apart to allow clumps to expand naturally.

• Preparation: Enrich soil with compost before planting; ensure good drainage but retain moisture.

Watering & Feeding

• Water regularly in the first season to establish roots.

• Once mature, it is relatively drought-tolerant but flowers best with consistent moisture.

• Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring, followed by a high-potash feed in summer to support strong flowering.

Pruning & Maintenance

• Deadhead spent flowers regularly to extend blooming.

• Cut stems back to ground level in late autumn after flowering has finished.

• Mulch in spring with compost or well-rotted manure to enrich soil and encourage strong growth.

• Divide clumps every 3–4 years in early spring if plants become crowded.

Protection

• Fully hardy, needing no winter protection.

• Resistant to most pests and diseases, though young growth may occasionally attract slugs and snails.

Why Choose Anemone ‘Dreaming Swan’?

This exceptional perennial is perfect for adding grace and colour late in the season when the garden needs it most.

• Elegant blooms: Semi-double white flowers brushed with lilac undersides.

• Long flowering season: Provides colour from July through October.

• Compact habit: Ideal for mixed borders or smaller gardens.

• Wildlife-friendly: Flowers attract bees and pollinators.

• Low-maintenance: Hardy, reliable, and easy to grow.

The Anemone ‘Dreaming Swan’ is a refined perennial that combines elegance with resilience. With its graceful two-tone blooms, long flowering season, and easy-care nature, it is a must-have for gardeners looking to extend their borders’ beauty well into autumn.

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

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