Add Some Color to Your Fall Garden with Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ Japanese Anemone

Fall can be a dreary time in the garden as many plants fade away or die back for the winter. But there are some standout plants that provide a final hurrah of color before the cold weather sets in. One of those is the Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ Japanese anemone. With its rose-pink semi-double blooms and attractive green foliage it’s a beautiful addition for the fall garden.

An Overview of Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ Japanese Anemone

Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ is a small Japanese anemone that grows 20–26 inches tall and 24–30 inches wide. It has green leaves and rose-pink, semi-double flowers that bloom from late summer to fall. The flowers are on stems that stand upright above the foliage mound.

This type was created by Proven Winners and is very hardy. It blooms from late summer to fall in zones 4–8. It grows best in average, moist, well-drained soil that gets full sun to part shade. The rhizomes of Japanese anemones help them spread slowly, but they are not considered aggressive or invasive.

Some key characteristics of Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ Japanese anemone:

• Upright, mounded habit
• Dark green foliage
• Semi-double rose pink blooms
• Blooms late summer to fall
• Attracts butterflies
• Deer and rabbit resistant
• Good for borders, mass plantings, containers
• Low maintenance
• Hardy in zones 4-8

How Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ Enlivens the Fall Garden

There are many reasons Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ has become a popular choice for fall gardens:

Long Blooming Season

In late summer and fall, many garden plants start to lose their color. But Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ Japanese anemone really shines. It starts blooming in late summer and doesn’t stop until the first frosts of fall. Rose pink half-double flowers add one last splash of color just when the garden needs it.

Works Well with Fall Companion Plants

Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ is easy to mix and match with other plants for a cohesive fall display because it is small and grows straight up. It goes well with ornamental grasses, asters, and other tall perennials. It looks great with shorter plants like heucheras, chrysanthemums, and sedums.

Attracts Pollinators

Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators are drawn to the rose pink blooms of Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ when flower resources start to dwindle in fall. Planting this anemone provides an important late season food source for pollinators before the frost arrives.

Deer and Rabbit Resistant

Gardeners don’t have to worry about this plant getting mowed down by hungry deer or rabbits. Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ is resistant to both animals, making it a smart, low maintenance choice. The deer/rabbit resistance also allows the plant to continue blooming through fall undamaged.

Works in Containers

The compact habit of Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ Japanese anemone makes it right at home in containers and planters. Plant it solo or combine it with cool weather annuals like pansies and ornamental kale for a long lasting fall display on your patio, porch or balcony.

How to Grow and Care for Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’

Fortunately, Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ Japanese anemone is easy to grow when provided with the right conditions:

Sun: Full sun to part shade (at least 4 hours of direct sun per day)

Soil: Average, moist, well-drained soil

Water: Moderate, keep soil moist but not saturated

Hardiness: Zones 4-8

Fertilizer: Apply balanced fertilizer in spring

Pruning: Deadhead spent blooms if desired

Propagation: Division of rhizomes in spring or fall

Pest/disease resistance: Deer, rabbit, pest and disease resistant

Overwintering: Apply mulch after first frost to protect rhizomes

Ideal Uses for Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ in the Landscape

Thanks to its long bloom time, compact size, and versatility, there are many different ways Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ Japanese anemone can be utilized in the fall garden:

• Containers and planters: Plant alone or with cool weather annuals

• Borders and beds: Combine with grasses, asters, mums and other fall perennials

• Cut flowers: Use in bouquets and arrangements

• Pollinator gardens: Attracts butterflies and bees

• Mass plantings: Plant in drifts for bold color impact

• Specimen/focal point: Standalone plant or small groupings

Growing Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ from a Nursery Pot or Bare Root Plant

Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ is available at most garden nurseries and retailers in late spring as young nursery potted plants or bare root plants. When planting, follow these tips:

• Select a sunny or partly shady location with well-drained soil.

• Amend the soil with compost or organic matter to improve drainage.

• Plant the nursery pot at the same level it was growing in the container.

• For bare root plants, plant at a level where the top of the root mass is 1-2 inches below the soil surface.

• Water the plant well after planting and apply mulch around the base.

• Fertilize lightly in early spring each year.

• Allow the plant to establish for one year before dividing or moving the plant.

Enjoying the Beauty of Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ Japanese Anemone

Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ Japanese anemone is a stellar choice for any fall garden. Its long lasting rose pink blooms add a final touch of charm right up until frost. This compact, low maintenance plant also attracts pollinators, resists deer/rabbits, and works beautifully in borders, beds, containers and more. Give Fall in Love ‘Sweetly’ a try this year for fantastic fall color!