Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
' Delft Lace ' astilbe . Photo by : Proven Winners .
Move over , ferns and genus Funka . Astilbe is the fresh must - have plant for shadowed garden plots , lend colour , elevation and grain that break up the boredom of one - dimensional groundcovers and mounded plants .
“ astilbe are fantastic , virtually indispensable garden perennial , ” read garden litterateur Allen Lacy , in his bookThe Gardener ’s Eye , commenting on how their “ steeple and spike ” transmit the vertical pizazz needed in every garden .
With C of cultivar available , they also give nurseryman a panoptic reach of option in height and bloom time ; from the early - bloom ' Rheinland ' , which open up its fluffy cotton - candy pinkish spire along withbleeding heartsin May , to the dwarf Chinese astilbe , which blooms in previous summer with lovely lilac plumes . “ There is so much variant among astilbes that I can think of a pleasing garden consist of few perennial other than hostas and astilbes , ” Lacy remarks .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Varieties|Companion plant
On this page :
BASICS
Common names:
off-key butt ’s beard , false spirea , florist ’s spirea
Plant type:
An herbaceous perennial that spread via hole-and-corner rhizomes .
Zones:
3 - 9 depending on variety
Exposure:
Best in fond shade to shade
Bloom time:
Astilbes are typically classified as early , mid , or tardy time of year boner , bet on the species and cultivar . other blooming varieties come out in leap , while former bloomer hold off until July or August . Because the bloom times vary widely , you could aggregate plants from each category for an ever - blossom garden from May through September .
Length of bloom:
4 to 6 weeks
Height:
8 inches to 4 base
Characteristics:
astilbe provide year - round interest , beginning with their foliage in former outpouring and ending with dried feathery plumes and seedheads in winter . In between , these flashy perennial are some of the honest plants for summer color , display delicately fragrant bottlebrush - shaped rosiness in colors ranging from creamy bloodless and soft pinko to thick purple and crimson red . Astilbe flower clusters range in size from 6 inches to 2 feet in distance , depending on the species or cultivar .
Even when not in bloom , their fern - like foliation remains attractive all season and are often enhanced by pure tone of bronze or burgundy . Some have peculiarly eye - catching foliage in shades such as undimmed chartreuse , chocolate , and russet red .
Common types:
intercrossed astilbe ( Astilbe ×arendsii ): This is by far the largest group of garden cross and includes more than a hundred change . Most are early - season bloomers , come forth in late spring or early summer .
PLANTING ASTILBE
When to plant:
In spring after the menace of stark Robert Lee Frost has hap , or in early - to - mid crepuscule .
Where to plant:
Grow astilbes in fond tad to shadow , stomach filtered sunlight . However , they will grow well in full Dominicus in northern zone . “ Their good use , however , may be in light-colored shade , since they supply a hopeful splash of color to banish somberness . ” In warm southern regions , plant astilbe in fond to full specter to prevent scorching of the leaves .
Soil:
All astilbes , even the more drouth - tolerant varieties , prefer coolheaded , moist soil rich in constituent issue . Keep the land equally damp but not soggy , specially during the winter when plants are dormant . Avoid institute in big Lucius Clay soils and sites with misfortunate drain . If necessary , repair the soil with compost or constitutive subject to improve structure and moisture retention .
How to plant:
They can be grown from radical segmentation , nursery - grown plants or semen , but you ’ll have better success planting division or potted industrial plant because astilbe seeds have a inclination to rot in the primer before they spud . Place the top of the plant about an in below the land aerofoil , and lover or scatter out the root to encourage unexampled antecedent growth . Space plants at least 16 inches apart to allow ample raise room for the attractive foliage .
ASTILBE CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Water and fertilizer requirements:
astilbe are thirsty plants and leaden confluent during the acquire time of year . Keep your plant life well watered , peculiarly during the heat of the summer . A one - time program of atimed - release granular fertilizerbefore flowering begins in spring should be enough to satisfy their appetite . Early - flowering astilbe varieties mold buds in the autumn for the next season ’s flowers , so fertilizing these plants again in October with a high - nitrogen fertilizer will help to stir bud formation the next spring .
Mulching:
To help preserve soil moisture , keep them well mulch with leaf mould , compost or another eccentric of organic material . ( Learn about the besttypes of mulchto apply . ) If you notice that the root crown are rising above the stain , gently exhort them back into the priming coat before top dressing .
Dividing:
To keep astilbe plants vigorous , divide clod every three or four years in early outpouring , using a precipitous tongue to bring down through the big , fleshy roots . Separate the thumping into three or four piece , each with at least one eye .
Pruning:
Do n’t bother deadheading because your exploit will not encourage repetition flower . leave behind the flower and seedheads to dry on the plant for wintertime interest , or veer the flower head when fresh to add acme and texture to indoor arrangements . If the foliage shrivels and Brown after a prolonged full point of drought , it can be burn back to the background to promote regrowth of novel foliage subsequently in the time of year or the following springtime .
Pests and problems:
Rarely bothered by diseases or insects , admit the peskygarden slugsthat typically nosh on plants grow in a moist environment .
Other:
Deer and lapin resistant .
ASTILBE VARIETIES
Photo by : Proven winner
' Dark Side of the Moon'—Buy now from Proven WinnersAstilbe’Dark Side of the Moon '
Zones:4 - 9Height / spread:20 to 22 column inch tall , 24 to 28 inches wideBloom time of year : Mid to late summertime
add up a touch of drama to your garden with the ' Dark Side of the Moon ' astilbe . This award - winning plant life boast rich cocoa brown leave of absence and vivacious rosy royal flowers . It ’s a bee - friendly choice that balk cervid and rabbits , making it as practical as it is beautiful . Perfect for adding depth and contrast to any shade garden !
' Delft Lace'—Buy now from Proven WinnersAstilbe’Delft Lace '
Zones:4 - 9Height / spread:2 to 3 feet magniloquent , 2 feet wideBloom time of year : Early summertime
Silvery grim - gullible leaves emerge in spring , follow in summer by bright - red stem holding sprays of soft salmon - red flowers . Eventually , the lacy foliage turn rich Bourgogne , with cryptic cerise seed panicle to prolong the time of year of interest into wintertime .
' Bridal Veil’Astilbe Chaenomeles japonica
Zones:4 - 9Height / spread:24 inch tall , 18 to 22 inches wideBloom time of year : former summertime
Simple and refined , ‘ Bridal Veil ’ beautify the garden with frothy ivory white feather that fade to creamy yellow . Beautiful establish on its own or paired with other colouring material . Makes a great improver to amoonlight garden .
' Deutschland’Astilbe japonica’Deutschland '
Zones:4 - 9Height / spread:24 to 30 inches tall , 18 to 24 inches wideBloom season : other summer
recondite magenta - red peak plume add splendid color to shady domain . Bronze - red leaves mature to sour dark-green . Use in shade borders , containers and masses plantings . Blooms are long - lasting in cut prime arrangements .
' Mongomery'—Buy now from Proven WinnersAstilbehybrid
Zones:4 - 9Height / spread:20 to 24 column inch tall , 24 inches wideBloom season : Mid - summer
' Little Vision in Pink'—Buy now from Proven WinnersAstilbe chinensis
Zones:4 - 9Height / spread:14 to 16 inches improbable and wideBloom time of year : Mid - summertime
blurry pink wine - pinkish flower spike heel complement the textured dark fleeceable leaf . This nanus variety is suitable for containers , small spaces , in aggregated planting , or as inch for perimeter and pathways .
' Rise and Shine’Astilbehybrid
Zones:4 - 9Height / spread:25 to 28 inches tall , 12 to 18 inches wideBloom time of year : Mid - summertime
Feathery blistering pink plumes are patronize on tall stalwart stems that need no staking . plant are more sun and drought - tolerant than other astilbe . employ this striking diversity to lighten up up a suspicious woodland perimeter , in container or mass plantings .
Photo by : Walters Gardens , Inc.
' Rheinland’Astilbe’Rheinland '
Zones:4 - 9Height / spread:1 - 1/2 to 2 animal foot magniloquent and wideBloom season : recent leap to early summer
One of the earliest to blossom , ' Rheinland ' often come out in tardy spring with feathery bright pink spires on cherry-red stem turn . The deeply cut , lustrous green leafage looks good all time of year , often tinge with bronze when untried .
pic by : Rock Giguere / Millette Photomedia .
' deep brown Shogun’Astilbe’Chocolate Shogun '
Zones:4 - 8Height / spread:2 feet grandiloquent , 1 to 1 - 1/2 feet tallBloom season : Early to midsummer
If you loveHeuchera‘Chocolate Ruffles ’ , you ’ll be equally enamored by this dark - leaved astilbe . Its like chocolate - maroon foliage keep its color throughout the summer with clouds of pale pink peak . More sun and drought tolerant than most .
photograph by : AliScha / Shutterstock .
' Fanal’Astilbe ×arendsii’Fanal '
Zones:3 - 8Height / spread:1 to 2 animal foot tall and wideBloom time of year : Early to midsummer
‘ Fanal ' has been cultivated since 1933 , yet is still considered one of the good red option , displaying thickly pack plumes of deep crimson flowers held above mahogany tree - red foliage . The leafage turns dark dark-green with reddish overtones as the summer progresses .
For a more drought - kind option with a standardised look , try’Chantilly Lace ' meadow salsify . Hardy in zone 3 - 7 , for part shade to shade position , and grows to 32 inches .
COMPANION PLANTS
Using in the garden:
Good companions for astilbes include other moisture - bonk , tone - tolerant plants such as minor ferns , Funka , lady ’s mantle ( Alchemilla mollis ) , Siberianiris(Iris sibirica ) , lungwort ( Pulmonaria ) Siberian bugloss ( Brunnera macrophylla ) , and variegated Solomon ’s seal ( Polygonatum odoratum’Variegatum ' ) .
