Astilbes
By: Garden Gate staff
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Add diversity with astilbes
Feathery, arching, 3-D chenille or straight up, there is a perfect astilbe for any spot in your garden planting! The varieties ahead will really shine if you remember a few things:
- Never let astilbes get too dry — they don’t recover well.
- They’re stronger in numbers. For larger varieties, three is a good start, while smaller ones need at least five to seven plants in a group to make an impact.
- Pick a spot with a healthy balance of sun and shade. More than six hours of sun and your colors will fade; less than four hours and you won’t see many flowers.
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Arching ‘Ostrich Plume’
Can’t you already picture the gentle arches of these blooms swaying and bobbing in a light breeze? This tall-growing astilbe also does well in a large container, but remember its lower heat tolerance.
‘Ostrich Plume’ (‘Straussenfeder’)
Blooms Cascading blooms in late spring to early summer
Size 24 to 36 in. tall, 12 to 24 in. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 7 to 1
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Feathery ‘Vision in White’
Blooming in late-spring and midsummer, the creamy white flowers of this astilbe make for a crisp contrast with its coarse, bronze-green foliage. This variety even handles heat well and is somewhat drought tolerant!
‘Vision in White’
Blooms Creamy white flower panicles are narrow and branched, forming a loose triangle
Size 20 to 24 in. tall, 18 in. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 8 to 1
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Straight up ‘Burgundy Red’
In early- to midsummer, small raspberry buds appear along the deep red stems of this midsized grower. As the buds open, you’ll fall for their long-lasting burgundy color. Set them off with white or light-colored flowers to make sure these richly hued plumes never disappear in shade.
‘Burgundy Red’ (‘Burgunderrot’)
Blooms Burgundy red flowers
Size 10 to 20 in. tall, 20 in. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 8 to 1
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3-D chenille ‘Visions’
Dense flower spikes make this lush low-grower a perfect border plant. After the late-summer blooms have faded, cut the spent flowers out, and you’ll still have great foliage for the rest of the growing season!
‘Visions’
Blooms Pink flower spikes
Size 12 to 15 in. tall and. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 8 to 1
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