Elfin Swan Anemone (Anemone x hybrida ‘Elfin Swan’)
ah-NEM-oh-nee ex HY-brid-ah ‘Elfin Swan’

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Compact, Clump-forming in the Ranunculaceae Family

Elfin Swan is a patented Japanese anemone (US PP30496, cultivar ‘Macane017’) from the Swan Series, bred in Scotland by Alasdair and Elizabeth MacGregor. Its parentage is a complex cross -- Anemone rupicola crossed with Anemone hupehensis var. japonica ‘Pamina’, with the resulting hybrid further crossed to an unnamed dwarf, double-pink-flowered hupehensis seedling. The result is a compact, tidy plant bearing single white flowers with a distinctive dark violet-blue reverse on the petals, held above neat mounded foliage. It is especially notable for an unusually long bloom season, typically flowering from June into October -- far longer than most fall-blooming Japanese anemones.

Pros

  • Exceptionally long bloom season, June through October
  • Distinctive white flowers with a dark violet-blue petal reverse
  • Compact, tidy habit well suited to smaller borders
  • Strong pollinator draw and good as a cut flower

Cons

  • Patented cultivar -- propagation by division or cuttings for resale is restricted
  • Like other Japanese anemones, can spread by rhizomes over time
  • Prefers consistent moisture; not drought-tolerant once established
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 18 - 24 inches tall. 14 - 24 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 5a - 8b (Usually hardy to -20° F)
Tags Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Full Sun, Good for Cut Flowers, Medium, Medium, Mounded, Non-Allergenic, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Popular For Fall, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Thrillers, Wet Site Tolerant
Bloom Period June to October
Flower Color White with Violet-Blue Reverse
Foliage Color Dark Green
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 04/13 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!