Pink Saucers Anemone
Pink Saucers Anemone
Large Soft-Pink Saucers for the Fall Garden
Pink Saucers Anemone (Anemone 'Pink Saucers') floats big, single, saucer-shaped flowers of soft pink with bright golden centers on tall, wiry stems from late summer into fall. The clean, simple blooms bring an airy elegance to part-shade borders just as the season turns, swaying above handsome dark foliage. Deer-resistant and pollinator-friendly, it's a graceful late-season choice for Edina, Maple Grove, and Woodbury gardens.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Anemone 'Pink Saucers' |
| Mature Size | 2–3 ft tall, 1.5–2 ft wide |
| Hardiness Zone | Zone 4–8 (hardy in the Twin Cities; mulch in colder areas) |
| Light | Part shade to full sun (afternoon shade ideal) |
| Bloom Time | Late summer to fall |
| Flower Color | Soft pink with golden centers |
| Soil | Rich, moist, well-drained |
Landscape Uses
Use Pink Saucers in part-shade borders, woodland edges, and cottage gardens for late-season height and movement. It pairs beautifully with hostas, ferns, and ornamental grasses, and the long-stemmed blooms are lovely cut.
Best Time to Plant
Plant in spring so the roots establish well before winter. In colder parts of Minnesota, a protected site and winter mulch improve overwintering.
How to Plant
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Set the crown level with the soil, backfill with compost-enriched soil, water thoroughly, and mulch 2–3 inches deep.
Watering
First Year: Keep the soil consistently moist, watering 2–3 times per week. Anemones dislike drying out.
After Year One: Water regularly during dry spells; they prefer steady moisture.
Drip Irrigation: A soaker hose or drip line keeps the root zone evenly moist.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does it bloom?
Late summer into fall, adding fresh color when much of the garden is fading.
Is it hardy in Minnesota?
It's reliably hardy in the Twin Cities; in colder areas plant in a sheltered spot and mulch for winter.
Does it spread?
Yes, Japanese anemones spread gradually by rhizomes over time.
Is it deer resistant?
Yes, deer tend to avoid anemones.
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Pair Pink Saucers with our other fall anemones, hostas, and ornamental grasses for a graceful late-season part-shade border.
How Many Pink Saucers Anemone Do I Need?
Pink Saucers spreads slowly by rhizome and reads best in a loose drift rather than as single dots. Set plants about 20 inches apart and let them knit together; for a polished look, plant in odd-numbered groups of 3–5.
| Run / Bed Length | Plants Needed (at 20 in. spacing) |
|---|---|
| 5 ft | 3 plants |
| 10 ft | 6 plants |
| 15 ft | 9 plants |
| 20 ft | 12 plants |
Pink Saucers Anemone Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: Mounds of handsome, dark, lobed foliage emerge and fill out — quiet but tidy ground-level structure.
- Summer: The clump bulks up; wiry flower stems begin to rise above the leaves by late summer.
- Fall: The main event — big single soft-pink saucers with golden centers sway on tall stems just as the rest of the border fades.
- Winter: Foliage dies back to the ground; mulch the crown in colder spots to ease it through freeze-thaw.
At a Glance
✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Shade-Tolerant
Plant It With
- Robustissima Anemone — a tougher, more vigorous fall anemone to extend the late-season pink show
- Japanese Painted Fern — silvery fronds light up the shade beneath the tall flower stems
- Jack Frost Brunnera — frosted heart-shaped leaves cover the bare base of the anemone clump
- Ostrich Plume Astilbe — plumed early-summer color in the same moist part-shade bed before the anemone peaks
Is Pink Saucers Anemone Right for Your Yard?
It thrives in rich, consistently moist, well-drained soil in part shade — morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal — where its rhizomes can roam a little and feed late-season pollinators. Not a fit if you have a hot, dry, full-sun bed or want a tidy, stay-put clump, since it dislikes drying out and slowly colonizes over time.