If you are seeking a riot of red blossoms for your shade garden, this is the perennial for you. Astilbe is a great plant for color and texture in the shade garden and makes wonderful edging or foreground plantings. Astilbe plants are cultivated as hardy, herbaceous perennials for their large fern-like foliage, and dense, feathery plumes of flowers from mid-June through September. They are rarely eaten by deer and one of the few groundcovers that will grow under walnut trees. Once you've seen their flowers, we're pretty sure you'll want to try every variety we offer.

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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.

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