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ASTILBE
Queen of the shade
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There was a time when I did not know astilbe. Now I could not imagine my garden without it. Let me count its exceptional qualities: it flowers beautifully, producing lovely plumes of white, pink or red flowers; it is one of the first perennials to reappear in the spring, producing attractive small-leaf foliage; it is perfectly structural, holding its flower stems erect with no need for staking; it is disease and bug resistant; and it can be divided every few years to make new colonies. |
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| Unfortunately, in our rush to embrace the new and novel we have a tendency to overlook the tried and true, plants that have served dependably for years. Astilbe definitely falls into that category, along with foxgloves, lady’s mantle, hostas and other familiar but nevertheless exquisite plants.
‘Fanal’ is part of a group of astilbes called “arendsii hybrids.” Other star performers include ‘Amethyst’ (pink), ‘Elizabeth Bloom’ (blousy pink) and ‘Snowdrift’ (white). |
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To create a long sequence of blooms, select a variety of astilbes that bloom in early, mid and late summer. Look for cultivars of Chinese astilbes (mostly Astilbe chinensis), star astilbes (A. simplicifolia), and tall Japanese astilbes, hybrids of A. thunbergii.
Top Chinese forms are ‘Superba’ (purplish-pink), ‘Intermezzo’ (salmon pink), ‘Pumila’ (lavender-pink), ‘Purple Candles’ (magenta-purple), and ‘Visions’ (mauve-pink).
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Among the star astilbes, look for ‘Sprite’ (pale pink – named Perennial of the Year in 1994), ‘Hennie Graadland’ (shell pink) and ‘Bonce Elegans’ (deep pink).
Best picks of the late-blooming Japanese cultivars are ‘Moerheim’s Glory’ (soft pink), and ‘Red Charm’ (cherry red).
You will find some of these grow tall and erect, sometimes reaching 3 feet (90 cm), while others are small and compact, with more delicate foliage. So when making your selection, think about the height of the plant as well as its blooming time. |
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| Traditionally, astilbes are regarded as “queen of the shade,” but that is misleading. Astilbes thrive best where they get plenty of sunshine but are also rooted in soil that retains moisture. They will flourish in light shade but perform best when they get a good amount of sunshine in the morning with dappled shade in the afternoon, although this is not a strict rule. It seems as long as they have sufficient moisture to draw on, they can handle a sunny spot. Astilbes are versatile enough to be grown in a variety of ways, but they are always terrific when placed in seamless drifts, especially on the banks of a stream or beside a pond.
-Steve Whysall |
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