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Great Design Plant: Astilbe
Astilbe's feathery white flowers add unique texture to the garden, even as the weather turns cooler
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
It isn't easy to find a showy plant that thrives in shade and looks good even as the flowers die. That's why I'm such a fan of astilbes. These gorgeous plants have feathery plumes that make them look spectacular en masse and let them stand out solo in a mixed garden.
Astilbes originated in Japan and China in the 1800s, and German and Dutch botanists could not get enough of crossing them, creating new cultivars and brightening up their color. While astilbes now come in a range of pinks and purples, we're going to look at the first astilbe hue the Europeans saw back in the 1800s: white.
Astilbes originated in Japan and China in the 1800s, and German and Dutch botanists could not get enough of crossing them, creating new cultivars and brightening up their color. While astilbes now come in a range of pinks and purples, we're going to look at the first astilbe hue the Europeans saw back in the 1800s: white.
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| Botanical name: Astilbe chinensis or other specific variety Common name: Astilbe, false spirea USDA zones: 4 to 9 (find your zone) Water requirement: Regular watering. Soil should be moist, rich in organic material and well drained. Light requirement: Light to moderate shade; filtered light or three to four hours of light per day are ideal. Mature size: 24 inches high, up to 18 inches wide Benefits and tolerances: This is a showy shade plant that thrives in moist/damp soils. It cannot tolerate drought or full sun. Astilbes are mostly pest resistant, including deer and rabbit resistant. The exception is the black vine weevil. Seasonal interest: Lovely base of leaves in summer; showy summer blooms. Even the spent blooms look good in the fall and the dried flowers can adorn the house in winter. When to plant: Mid-spring or after the last frost |
| Distinguishing traits. Astilbes have delicate, feathery plumes that bloom above the base of the leaves in June and/or July, depending on your zone. Even when not in bloom, the plant's fernlike leaves are attractive. The flowers are fragrant and attract butterflies. |
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| As the blooms start to fade in the fall, their structures still add a unique texture to the garden that many people find lovely. In fact, astilbe is popular as a dried flower. |
| Astilbe is a versatile plant. Here are the best ways to use it:
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| Planting notes. Astilbes prefer acidic or neutral soil. Add organic material to any soil that is lacking in nutrients. Space 12 to 18 inches apart; dig holes as deep as the container or about 6 inches deep for bare-root specimens. Keep plants watered and soil moist; extremely hot weather and lack of water will quickly kill astilbes. Otherwise, they are quite tolerant and strong. Divide every three to four years. More Great Design Plants |
Comments
pursue Deer have never once bothered any of our astilbes in Maryland. They do wilt and require water during dry years, but our normal rainfall is usually adequate.
9 months ago · Like
Trio Landscaping I love to use Astilbes in both shady and partial sun locations. The have long bloom times and look great with different colored varieties mixed together, helping extend the bloom time in that area of the landscape. In MN we usually find these deer and rabbit resistant as well.
9 months ago · Like
4leo Be aware of the life-span of the astilbe; although a beautiful species........They will slowly diminish in size and blooms, until aprox. 5 years down the road.........they will no longer be there. I have planted hundreds of these lovely plants and watched each one disapear(not eaten). I do not have deer and wildlife problems where I reside. It is not a strong plant.
9 months ago · Like
sallylightfoot I planted three two years ago and now I have two that have not bloomed at all in the shade. They are watered regularly. Nice plant but I don't expect to have my two for very long.
9 months ago · Like
Ginkgo Leaf Studio One of our favorite Astilbe varieties is 'Purpurkerze' or Purple Candles. Big bold flowers that even dry, remain upright over winter. 
9 months ago · Like
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fivecats I've planted dozens of them over the years, first in partial shade, but they went nowhere, so I moved them. The ones that now get strong sunlight are big, fluffy, and gorgeous; the few remaining ones in the shade are very puny. Go for sun!
9 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Aug. 25, 2012.
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