False Spirea (White) {25 Bare Root plants}

Like cotton candy on a stick, cloudy, soft, downy plumes of creamy-white flower spikes adorn the emerald saw-toothed foliage of this Astilbe.

Gardeners love the cottony plumes and ferny foliage of Astilbe 'Gladstone'.

Please read about bare root plants (especially the paragraph about bare root grasses) so you know what to expect.

See other plants that go well with this plant.

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.

See all Astilbe (False Spirea)

Specifications:

Cold hardiness zone: 3-9 (-40 degrees F) - Contact your local extension to confirm hardiness if you are in a fringe zone (we cannot guarantee hardiness in fringe zones)
AHS Heat Zone: 8-2
Light: Part sun Shade
Growth rate: Moderate
Mature height: 18-24"
Spread: 18-24"
Spacing: 12-18"
Tolerant of: Deer, Wet Conditions, Rabbits
pH of Soil: 4.5 - 8.0, Ideal pH: 5.5 - 7.0
Attracts: Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Grows Under Trees: Conifer - No, Walnut - Yes, Other - Yes

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Surprised at how fresh they looked
05/07/2020 By Cynthia Ullrich (NY)
Product reviewed: False Spirea (White) {10 Bare Root plants}

05/07/2020 I’ve never purchase bare root plants before and I was pleasantly surprised to see how fresh looking they were. I put them in the ground hours after I received them. A week later, one or two still look a bit peaked and thirsty but the rest look... Read full review >

All is well
04/19/2017 By LINDA G BARNES
Product reviewed: False Spirea (White) {10 Bare Root plants}

04/19/2017 False Spirea arrived in a timely manner packaged in such a way to safeguard the plants. I was not able, due to cold snap, to set these plants in the ground. I open the package and allowed the light to reach the plants protecting the root system... Read full review >

Excellent
06/09/2016 By richard loveluck
Product reviewed: False Spirea (White) {25 Bare Root plants}

06/09/2016 Strong healthy plants

No unusual shipping concerns for this plant.

FREE SHIPPING - Classy Groundcovers offers free shipping, and your plants never spend more than three days in transit.

Precise delivery - another benefit from shopping with us is that you know how many days delivery will take and can control exactly when your order will be shipped.

Shipping information that applies to all plants:
- Transit Time For Your Shipment (at most 3 days)
- When We Ship
- You May Specify Your Shipping Date
- Lookup Shipping Date and Tracking Information
- Special Delivery Instructions
- No Shipments To: AK, AZ, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA or internationally
- Changing Your Shipping Date
- Accepting Delivery
- Unpacking Your Order
- Returns

Deadheading does not induce re-bloom, so leave the fading plumes as long as they have any ornamental interest.

General information that applies to all plants:
- Ground preparation, fertilization, pH
- Planting instructions
- Explanation and description of bare roots
- How to plant bare root plants
- If you cannot plant bare roots right away

3 customer reviews

Astilbe × arendsii 'Gladstone'
(AKA Goats Beard, False Goatsbeard)

Pronunciation: ah-STILL-bee ar-END-see-eye

FREE SHIPPING!
$104.25 for 1 pack of 25 plants ($4.17 per plant)
4-39 packs: $96.75 per pack ($3.87 per plant)
Additional discounts on 1000 or more plants

In stock.