Whirlwind Anemone (Anemone 'Whirlwind')
ah-NEM-oh-nee 'Whirlwind'

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Mounding in the Ranunculaceae Family
A long-cultivated classic Japanese anemone with unusual semi-double to double white flowers and twisted petals, blooming late summer into late fall.

Whirlwind is a long-cultivated classic Japanese anemone, distinguished by semi-double to double white flowers with an unusual twisted-petal form -- a departure from the simple single flowers of many Japanese anemone cultivars. It has one of the longest bloom seasons of any Japanese anemone, running from late summer into late fall, and is genuinely more vigorous than most other cultivars in this genus -- the RHS itself notes it has “the potential to become a nuisance” given room to spread.

Pros

  • Distinctive semi-double to double white flowers with an unusual twisted-petal form
  • One of the longest bloom seasons of any Japanese anemone, late summer into late fall
  • Long-cultivated, well-documented classic
  • Attracts pollinators and makes a good cut flower

Cons

  • More vigorous than most Japanese anemones -- RHS notes it has “the potential to become a nuisance” if not managed
  • Spreads by rhizomes and may need root-barrier containment in smaller beds
  • Prefers consistent moisture; struggles in prolonged drought
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 3 - 4 feet tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Partial Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Borders, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rain Garden, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Medium, Medium, Mounded, Normal Soil, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Wet Site Tolerant, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period Early Fall to Late Fall
Flower Color White / Yellow
Foliage Color Dark Green
 

More Info from Experts
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 07/13 - 09/20
2024 : 07/18 - 10/05

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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!