This pretty perennial livens up shady spots with its fine-textured foliage and colorful summer blooms.
Astilbe is a knockout perennial, thanks to its ornamental, fern-like bronze-and-green foliage and its feathery plumed blossoms.
In spring, new foliage often emerges bright green with blushes of bronze.
Karlis Grants.
Some varieties hold that color all year long, and others offer deep chocolate/burgundy foliage.
These finely textured mounds of foliage stay compact with no training needed.
A location in full sun is tolerated but requires consistent moisture.
Credit: Bob Stefko
The best place to plant astilbe depends on the height of the plant.
Varieties range from 6 inches to over 4 feet.
Place taller varieties in the back of the border and shorter ones in the front.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
For the best effect, plant astilbe in a group of three or more of the same color.
How and When to Plant Astilbe
Plant astilbe early in the spring.
Dig a hole that is about twice as wide as the root system and has the same depth.
Credit: Bryan E. McKay
Place the plant in the hole and backfill with the original soil.
Gently tamp it down and water well.
The cool, moist soil prompts the plant to develop a robust root system.
Credit: Marty Ross
Depending on the height of the variety, space plants 18 to 24 inches apart.
Astilbe Care Tips
Light
When it comes to light, astilbes are versatile.
Depending on the variety, they can take anything fromfull sunto almost full shade.
Credit: Julie Maris Semarco
Partial shade is ideal.
In full sun, astilbes must receive adequate water throughout the growing season.
They likeconsistently moist soils, and they’ll suffer without it.
Credit: Stephen Cridland
So be sure to plant in well-drained soils with lots of organic matter.
Amending the soil withadditional compostcan help retain water and keep these moisture-loving plants happy.
If the soil dries out too much, the leaves on your astilbes will begin to brown and curl.
Credit: Bob Stefko
Fertilizer
Before planting, rake ageneral-purpose granular fertilizer, such as 5-10-5, into the soil.
The plantneeds phosphorus to bloom.
After the plants are established, an annual program of the same fertilizer is all the plants need.
Credit: Julie Maris Semarco
Fill it with well-draining potting mix amended with organic matter.
Repotting may become necessary after two years when the plant reaches maturity.
Replant it in a container one size up and with fresh potting soil.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Astilbe is a hardy plant that overwinters outdoors even if planted in pots.
However, unlike in garden soil, the roots are not sufficiently insulated against the cold.
In dry, hot conditions, leaf scorch may occur.
Credit: Lynn Karlin
Potential pests includeaphids, spider mites, slugs, and Asiatic garden beetles.
For insect control, it often helps to spray the plant with a garden hose.
How to Propagate Astilbe
The most efficient way to propagate astilbe isby division.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
The plants grow from rhizomes.
In the late fall, dig around the edge of the plant to reveal the rhizomes.
After preparing a new location withloose, well-draining soiland compost, plant the new astilbe directly in the garden.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
You’ll see new growth in the spring.
Growing astilbe from seed is possible but the process takes much longer.
And, because many astilbes are hybrids, you aren’t guaranteed a new plant identical to the parent.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
Loose panicles of light pink blooms show in late summer.
Grape-scented lavender bloom spires reach only 1 foot tall.
Zone 4-8
‘Fanal’ Astilbe
Astilbexarendsii’Fanal' is one of the best red-flowering types.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
It blooms in midsummer with dark red flowers on reddish-bronze leaves.
It grows to 2 feet tall.
It has better drought tolerance than most astilbes.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
It bears magenta flowers in mid- to late summer on shiny, dark green leaves.
The larger varieties have heart-shaped leaves almost 2 feet long that are puckered or wavy-edged.
They are white or green variegated, blue-gray, chartreuse, or emerald-edgedthe variations are virtually endless.
Credit: Illustration by Gary Palmer
Hostas bloom with white or purplish lavender funnel-shaped or flared flowers in summer.
Some are intensely fragrant.
Zone 3-9
Coral Bells
Coral bellsare grown primarily for the unusual mottling and veining of different-color leaves.
The low clumps of long-stemmed evergreen or semi-evergreen lobed foliage make coral bells fine groundcover plants.
They enjoy humus-rich, moisture-retaining soil.
They prosper in partial shade; in too much sun their blooms fade and the leaves get burned.
The ferns prosper in consistently moist but not fully wet conditions.
Plant the fern in clusters to magnify its striking effect.
In thiscold-climate shade garden plan, hardy perennials are used to add color to shady spots in your landscape.
They will fill your yard with color all summer longplus provide interest in spring, fall, and winter.
Beginner Garden for Shade
For thisshade garden plan, we have selected foolproof plants.
It’s simple yet it makes your perennial shade garden design look like a pro’s.
Thisbold woodland garden planwill look gorgeous from spring until frost.
It features easy-growing perennial flowers such as hosta, bleeding heart, and hellebore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most astilbe plants spread easily, but they arent aggressive.
The plants benefit from being divided every three to five years to prevent overcrowding and remain vigorous.
Yes, even if you divided them.
Cut all the foliage back, leaving about 3 inches of stems.
Mark their location in some way to prevent accidentally digging them up in the spring before the foliage emerges.
