Bring bold color to shade with False Spirea 'Younique Ruby Red' (Astilbe × 'Younique Ruby Red'), a compact astilbe with dense, ruby-red flower plumes held above fine, fern-like foliage. This clump-forming perennial is an easy way to brighten woodland edges, north-side beds, and mixed container plantings.
Give your astilbe a moisture-retentive, organically rich soil that stays evenly damp. Plant it where it receives partial shade to shade; it can handle more sun when the soil never dries out, but hot afternoon sun will stress the foliage. A spring mulch of leaf mold or compost helps hold moisture and keeps roots cool.
In early summer, the upright plumes rise above the foliage for a showy display, and the flowers are also useful for fresh cutting or drying. After bloom, you can leave spent plumes for texture or trim them for a neater look. Water deeply during warm weather, especially during dry spells, to keep leaves from browning at the edges.
Expect mature size around 12-16 inches tall in bloom, with a tidy footprint that works well at the front of a border. This plant is generally resistant to deer and rabbits. If you want to refresh crowded clumps, divide in spring or early fall and replant at the same soil level, then keep divisions well-watered until established.