The graceful plumelike panicles of this genus adorn the garden in a variety of colors over a long season. There are early, midseason, and late astilbes, with blooms in shades of red, white, purple, and pink rising above their ferny foliage. The foliage is almost as much of an attribute as the fl owers are. Most have dark green, ferny or feathery foliage that sometimes emerges with beau-tiful reddish hues. Others have bronze, reddish brown, or purplish foliage, while a few are light green. Astilbes range in size from four inches to fi ve feet and are very adaptable to many condi-tions except summer drought.
Although astilbes are tough plants and thrive in the moist weather of the Northwest, they are the wrong plants for dry shade, under large fi r trees. They will just sit and sulk, have little growth or bloom and eventually dry up and die, although the low ones seem more tolerant.
There are several large groups with specifi c characteristics. Astilbe chinensis is vigorous with dense plumes, a late-season bloomer in shades of horticultural original sin (mauve-magenta);
it and its kin can be short or tall with hairy foliage. Astilbe japonica has large, wide panicles in the full color range, blooming in midseason or earlier. Astilbe ×arendsii from Georg Arends in Germany blooms in midseason or earlier in a wide color range; fernlike foliage emerges dark, with some cultivars keeping the dark or bronze coloring throughout the season. Astilbe simplici-folia is smaller, with fi nely divided, shiny simplici-foliage and a shorter infl orescence. Astilbe thunbergii has taller, arching plumes.
Astilbes make an excellent cut fl ower if harvested when half open. Many are also cut and air-dried then used in air-dried fl oral arrangements. The air-dried rust-colored seedheads can also be left on to extend the interest into winter and then removed before new growth begins in the spring.
~ Susan Carter
Astilbe ‘Snowdrift’.
Astilbe
06_12_F08 Perennials X_5 CTP Proof G5J No_5
033_113_TP.indd 93
033_113_TP.indd 93 1/10/07 11:39:20 AM1/10/07 11:39:20 AM
94
Scientifi c Name: Greek for “without brilliance.”
Common Name: False spirea.
Origin: Eastern Europe, China, Japan.
Preferred Conditions: Acid, humus-rich, moisture-retentive. Doesn’t like it too dry.
Light: Sun to part shade.
Management: Little is required during the growing season except to make sure plants don’t dry out. They can be mulched but not with fresh manure. When clumps become worn out or bare and woody in the middle, they can be rejuvenated by lifting the clumps, discarding the center, and replanting the vigorous pieces from the edge of the clumps. Spent fl ower heads can be removed anytime after fl owering.
Propagation: Division in late winter to spring. Best to divide when completely dormant. Seed in February and March—usually takes two years to fl ower.
Pests and Diseases: Root weevil, especially the chinensis varieties over time. A heavy infesta-tion of weevils can severely damage the semi-woody crowns of astilbes.
Companions: Hosta, pulmonaria, helleborus, epimedium, ferns, polygonatum, Japanese iris;
particularly effective in groups.
Notes: Do not mulch over the crowns with fresh manure as it can burn the pips and the newly emerging growth. Astilbes prefer a high-humidity location.
Species and Cultivars
(bloom time) Foliage Comments
‘Amethyst’
(×arendsii)
2–2½ft × 2ft 5–8 Clear lilac-pink (M) Dark green, lacy, fernlike
Good cut fl ower
‘Anita Pfeifer’
(×arendsii)
2–2½ft × 2ft 5–8 Salmon-pink (M) Dark green
‘Aphrodite’
(simplicifolia hybrid)
1½ft × 1½ft 5–8 Salmon-red (M–L) Dark bronze Good foliage
×arendsii 2–4ft × 1½ft 5–8 Various (M–L) Semi-glossy, feathery, green
Rarely grown from seed
‘Betsy Cuperus’
(thunbergii hybrid)
4ft × 2ft 5–8 Pale pink on large, gracefully arching stems (M)
Green Spreading habit,
good cut
‘Bonn’ ( japonica hybrid)
1½–2ft × 1½ft
5–8 Deep carmine-rose (E)
Fernlike, green
‘Brautschleier’
(×arendsii) (syn.
‘Bridal Veil’)
2½ft × 1½ft 5–8 White to creamy-yellow, open sprays (M)
Dense, fernlike, green, glossy
Profuse bloomer, RHS Award
‘Bremen’ ( japonica hybrid)
2ft × 1½ft 5–8 Crimson-rose (E–M) Green
‘Bressingham Beauty’ (×arendsii)
3–3½ft × 1½ft
5–8 Clear pink (M) Mid-green, fernlike Expansive habit
‘Bronze Elegans’
(simplicifolia hybrid)
12–15in × 12in 5–8 Clear pink with a salmon tinge (M–L)
Bronze-green, shiny Vigorous for a simplicifolia hybrid, RHS Award
‘Bumalda’
(×arendsii)
2ft × 1½ft 5–8 White plumes with a soft pink tinge (E–M)
Green
‘Cattleya’
(×arendsii)
3ft × 1½ft 5–8 Rose-pink on open spikes (M–L)
Leafy, dark green, stems have bronze tint when young
Vigorous
Astilbe
Perennials A-B.indd_TP.indd 94
Perennials A-B.indd_TP.indd 94 12/7/06 6:05:06 PM12/7/06 6:05:06 PM
95
Species and Cultivars
(bloom time) Foliage Comments
chinensis 2–3ft × 2ft+ 5–8 Mauve-pink (M–L) Dense with hairy
leafl ets, fernlike
Vigorous, spreading roots, esp. in fertile soil
c. var. davidii 4–5ft × 3ft 5–8 Rose-purple on erect spikes (M–L)
Green, divided, fernlike, in basal rosettes
A very tall plant, needs full sun
c. ‘Finale’ 20–24in × 2ft 5–8 Soft pink (M–L) Green, fernlike Vigorous spreading roots, more drought tolerant
c. ‘Intermezzo’ 1–2ft × 2ft 5–8 Salmon-pink (M–L) As above c. var. pumila 8–12in × 10in+ 5–8 Mauve-pink turning
brown while upper portion is still in bloom (M–L)
As above Tolerant of full sun, short and stout, good edge plant, RHS Award
c. var. taquetii
‘Purpurlanze’
4ft × 2ft 5–8 Rosy-purple (M–L) Shiny, dark bronze, ferny
Striking infl orescence c. var. taquetii
‘Superba’
4ft × 2ft 5–8 Lilac (M–L) Crinkled, red-tinged
green, fernlike
Tall open
infl orescence, RHS Award
c. ‘Veronica Klose’ 1–2ft × 1½ft 5–8 Dark pink (M–L) Emerges deep green, ages to clear green, coarse
Vigorous, compact growth
c. ‘Visions’ 15in × 18in 5–8 Mauve-pink (M) Bronze-green, ferny Sun tolerant, compact grower
×crispa ‘Lilliput’ 8in × 8in 5–8 Salmon-pink (M–L) Dense, glossy, dark green
Very compact, slow
×c. ‘Perkeo’ 8–10in × 8in 5–8 Dark pink on short stiff stems (M)
Delicate, jagged, dark green
Very compact, slow, RHS Award
‘Darwin’s Margot’ 20in × 12in 5–8 Rosy-red (E) Green Compact
‘Deutschland’
( japonica hybrid)
20–24in × 12in
5–8 White, fragrant (E–M)
Deep green, glossy Vigorous, full, and large
‘Diamant’
(×arendsii)
2–3ft × 1½ft 5–8 Clear white in narrow plumes (M)
Deep green
‘Dunkellachs’
(simplicifolia hybrid)
1–1½ft × 1ft 5–8 Rich salmon-pink (M–L)
Coppery, fernlike, shiny Red stems
‘Düsseldorf’
( japonica hybrid)
20–24in × 12in
5–8 Light crimson-red (M)
Green
‘Elisabeth’
( japonica hybrid)
2–2½ft × 1½ft
5–8 Raspberry (M) As above
‘Elizabeth Bloom’
(×arendsii)
2–2½ft × 1½ft
5–8 Pure pink (M) Deep, glossy green
‘Erica’ (×arendsii) 2–2½ft × 1½ft
5–8 Clear bright pink in long, narrow plumes (M)
Bronze-red aging to deep green
‘Etna’ ( japonica hybrid)
2ft × 1½ft 5–8 Dark red (E) Reddish aging to
mid-green
‘Europa’ ( japonica hybrid)
2ft × 1½ft 5–8 Pale pink in heavy spikes (E)
Mid-green Very fl oriferous, good cut Astilbe
Perennials A-B.indd_TP.indd 95
Perennials A-B.indd_TP.indd 95 12/7/06 6:05:06 PM12/7/06 6:05:06 PM
96
Species and Cultivars
(bloom time) Foliage Comments
‘Fanal’ (×arendsii) 2ft × 1½ft 5–8 Dark crimson-red in dense short spikes, best landscape red (E)
Dark reddish brown aging to green, deeply cut
Best for red foliage, RHS Award
‘Federsee’
(×arendsii)
2–2½ft × 1½ft
5–8 Carmine-rose, large full plumes (M)
Green Adapts well to dry
conditions glaberrima var.
saxatilis
4–8in × 8in 5–8 Shell-pink (M) Glossy, dark green Nice for rock gardens, RHS Award
‘Gloria’ (×arendsii) 1½–2ft × 1½ft
5–8 Lavender-pink (E–M) Fernlike, green
‘Glut’ (×arendsii) (syn. ‘Glow’)
2½–3ft × 1½ft
5–8 Deep ruby-red, narrow feathery spikes (M–L)
Bronze-red aging to mid-green
‘Granat’ (×arendsii) 3ft × 1½ft 5–8 Garnet-red fading to pink
Purplish bronze aging to green
‘Grete Püngel’
(×arendsii)
2–3ft × 1½ft 5–8 Vivid pink (E–M) Purplish aging to green
‘Hennie Graafl and’
(simplicifolia hybrid)
4–8in × 8in 5–8 Shell-pink (M) Glossy, dark green Dwarf astilbe, easy to grow, increases well
‘Hyazinth’
(×arendsii)
3ft × 1½ft 5–8 Dark lavender-pink (E–M)
Green, fernlike
‘Inshriach Pink’
(simplicifolia hybrid)
8–12in × 10in 5–8 Light pink, airy plumes (L)
Dark bronze, crinkled Slow
‘Irrlicht’
(×arendsii)
2ft × 1½ft 5–8 White with rose tinge (E–M)
Dark green
‘Maggie Daley’ 2½ft × 1½ft 5–8 Purplish rose (M) Dark green, shiny
‘Mainz’ ( japonica hybrid)
2ft × 1½ft 5–8 Violet (E–M) Dark green
‘Moerheimii’
(thunbergii hybrid)
5ft × 2ft 5–8 White, large arching plumes (M)
Green
‘Montgomery’
( japonica hybrid)
2½ft × 1½ft 5–8 Dark red (M) Bronze-red aging to dark green
‘Obergärtner Jürgens’ (×arendsii)
1½–2ft × 2ft 5–8 Crimson (E) Dark green
‘Professor van der Wielen’ (thunbergii hybrid)
3–4ft × 2ft+ 5–8 White, long stems of gracefully arching sprays (M)
Green, open, on strong stems
Good cut, a different look for an astilbe
‘Queen of Holland’
( japonica hybrid)
2ft × 2ft 5–8 White (E) Green
‘Red Sentinel’
( japonica hybrid)
2–3ft × 1½ft 5–8 Deep crimson-red (E–M)
Dark green, glossy, bronze tinge, red stems
‘Rheinland’
( japonica hybrid)
1½–2ft × 1½ft
5–8 Clear bright pink, intense (E–M)
Dense, green, fernlike RHS Award
×rosea ‘Peach Blossom’
2ft × 1½ft 5–8 Pink (M) Light green, glossy,
fernlike
A very soft look
simplicifolia 6–12in × 8in 5–8 White (E–M) Dark green, somewhat
glossy
Dwarf, slow, RHS Award
s. ‘Darwin’s Snow Sprite’
1ft × 1ft 5–8 White (M–L) Dark green, delicately
cut
More robust than A. ‘Sprite’
Astilbe
Perennials A-B.indd_TP.indd 96
Perennials A-B.indd_TP.indd 96 12/7/06 6:05:06 PM12/7/06 6:05:06 PM
97
Species and Cultivars
Height/
Spread
USDA Hardiness Zone
Flowers
(bloom time) Foliage Comments
‘Snowdrift’
(×arendsii)
2ft × 1½ft 5–8 Pure white (M) Bright green Good cut
‘Spinell’ (×arendsii) 3ft × 1½ft 5–8 Carmine-red, long plumes (M)
Deep red aging to reddish green
‘Sprite’
(simplicifolia hybrid)
8–12in × 10in 5–8 Light pink (L) Rich dark green, bronze in spring, glossy, delicately cut
Slow, 1994 PPA Award, RHS Award
‘Straussenfeder’
(thunbergii hybrid) (syn. ‘Ostrich Plume’)
3–3½ft × 2ft 5–8 Coral-pink in large, open, arching plumes (M)
Bronze aging to green Vigorous, RHS Award
‘Vesuvius’
( japonica hybrid)
2ft × 1½ft 5–8 Carmine-red (M) Bronze-green
‘Washington’
( japonica hybrid)
1½–2ft × 1½ft
5–8 Strong white (E) Green
‘Weisse Gloria’
(×arendsii)
2–2½ft × 1½ft
5–8 Creamy-white on erect spikes (M)
Dark-green, fernlike, shiny
Strong growth
‘William Buchanan’
(simplicifolia hybrid)
8–18in × 12in 5–8 Light pink (L) Green, tinged red, shiny More vigorous than A. ‘Sprite’