General information about Astilbe (False Spirea):
Hands down, the fernlike foliage and feathery tufts of
flowers
that Astilbe offers are some of the most delightful textures and colors you will ever find in a perennial
shade
(or part shade)
garden.
If you have a water feature, Astilbe will stand tall as a foreground planting amidst other bog perennials.
Like a rooster with his feathers fanned out, the boa-like blossoms are simply breathtaking.
We offer
red, pink,
and
white
varieties of this
herbaceous,
butterfly
and
hummingbird
attracting perennial that flowers from June through September.
Your garden will explode with the soft, downy texture of vibrant blooms that can be left to dry, giving color and texture throughout the remainder of the season.
With a
moderate growth rate
and willingness to grow in
many soils,
Astilbe will reward you most handsomely if you place him in moist, peaty
humus-rich
soil.
You will find Astilbe is perfectly content in a bog habitat, along stream-banks or edging a pond where the flamboyant foliage and flowers reflect beautifully in water.
Astilbe is even willing to grow
under trees
(yes, even under walnut trees)
where it yields the effect of fluffy-frocked fairies dancing about the base of the tree.
Astilbe is dormant in winter;
deer tend to avoid
him, and will eventually spread to clumps almost 2 feet wide.
When planted closely together, you achieve a complete groundcover with wisps of fern-like foliage and downy blossoms.
As
edging,
or foreground plantings, Astilbes will literally become vivid brush-strokes of Renoir-like color across a shaded garden.
Things to Note
For the first year in the ground Astilbe may have only a few blooms.
Astilbe flower heads last longer if they are planted away from the afternoon sun. They tolerate full sun in zones 3-8 if soil is kept moist (the foliage will scorch if plant is in full sun in dry soil).
Deadheading
does not induce re-bloom, so leave the fading plumes as long as they have any ornamental interest.
Astilbe tends to brown out during shipment and has to
reflush
once it is planted.
As long as the roots and crowns are not mushy (which could happen if they got cooked during shipment in hot weather) they will be fine.
Interesting Facts
Astilbe species are native to Asia and North America.
Some varieties of Astilbe are native to the United States though these are not likely to be a cultivar of the native variety.
Astilbe is often referred to as 'false spirea' because it looks like Aruncus spirea.
Gardener Tips
When transplanting, please understand that growth will be stunted the first year. If planted after late spring you might lose ALL foliage; please rest assured that they they will bounce back with FULL foliage the next year.
When the dried seed heads are no longer attractive they can be removed so that the forest-green ferny foliage with mahogany stems can show itself to best effect.
For gorgeous color, elegant foliage and varied blooming time, try a trio of Astilbe,
Creeping Jenny
and
Hosta.
Alternatively, for a mega-show of blossoms and rich foliage use the trio of
Siberian Iris,
Coral Bells
and Astilbe.
They came very tiny but they thrived with extra attention in the beginning. I planted them under a large oak. They receive full shade and do well. I look forward to them every year. I will say mine are more of a light pink than a bright pink as pictured.
The spirea arrived with many brown or spotted leaves. I planted all of them, but the next day they were half dried up, and the day after that, they were completely dried up. I can't understand why this happened. The roots were definitely moist when I planted... Read full review >
This experience was totally amazing. The web site is packed full of all the gardening information you would ever need to be successful in ordering and planting and caring for any plants they sell.
The plants were shipped on Monday and received on Tuesday... Read full review >
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Send out fresh shoots.
See our Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea').
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Part sun 
Shade
