How to Grow Astilbe Flowers

About Growing Astilbe Flowers

Perennial Astilbe is a great shade plant with rich, dense foliage and feathery, summer blooms for your shade garden. There isn’t an abundance of colorful shade-loving plants. So, growing Astilbe is a fantastic choice. Astilbe is native to Asia and North America. There are 25 varieties to choose from. Astilbe plumes attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to your backyard shade garden. If deer roam in your area, you’ll be happy to know that the deer leave this ornamental alone.

In addition to cheerful blooms, the plant’s glossy, fern-like leaves are attractive, too. Astilbe looks its best when planted in groups. They look great in a flower bed, as border edging, or in containers on your patio or deck.

Did You Know? Astilbe flowers produce very little pollen. As a result, it is a good choice for gardeners and homeowners who have allergies.

Astilbe Plant Specifications

Flower Colors: Pink, red, white, purple, and peach.

Flowers Bloom: June – July in most areas.

Plant Height: from 18 inches to five feet, depending upon variety. Also, there is a dwarf variety that grows just 6 inches tall.

Ideal Soil pH: 6.0 – 8.0.

Hardiness Zones: 3 – 8.

Light Requirement: Light shade, partial shade to full sun.

Toxicity: Non-Tosic.

Other Names: Also known as False Spirea and False Goat’s Beard.

Native To: Mountainous ravines and woodlands in Asia and North America.

Type of Plant: Ornamental Perennial

Botanical Name: Astilbe

Are Perennial Astilbe Plants Edible?

Yes!

All parts of the Astilbe plant are edible. However, it is not in common use in the kitchen.

Astilbe Plant Medicinal Applications

The plants have several medicinal uses.

Among them are:

Treatment for hemorrhages.
It has anti-inflammatory properties.
It is also used to treat gastrointestinal diseases.

Astilbe Flower Plant Propagation

Astilbe is commonly propagated by the division of their rhizomes. This is best done in either spring or fall. For the best performance of these showy shade lovers, separate roots every 3-4 years.

Astilbe can also be grown from seed. Sow seeds early in the spring indoors, or directly into your garden after the weather and soil has warmed in your area.

Because growing them from seed takes longer and is more involved, most home gardeners propagate them by separating and replanting the rhizomes. When you do this, save a few rhizomes for your gardening friends.

How to Grow Astilbe Flower Plants

Growing Astilbe is very easy to grow.

Astilbe plants prefer partial to full shade.

They need soft soil, mixed with lots of humus or peat. The soil must drain well. Water the plants to keep the soil moist, preferably at all times.

Space plants 12″ to 24″ apart. In just a year or two, the rhizomes will spread out and the plants will fill in the gaps They look best when planted in groups.

Astilbe plants are heavy feeders. In addition to a rich soil, add fertilizer high in nitrogen every 4 – 6 weeks.

Mulch around plants to help keep weeds down, and to retain soil moisture. Mulch will also help to feed the plants as it decomposes.

In most cases, pruning is not needed.

After a heavy frost, the plants go dormant for the winter. Cut the plants back close to the ground. These hardy plants will overwinter well in most areas. But a layer of much is still recommended, especially in the coldest climates.

Insects and Plant Disease

Perennial Astilbe seldom has major problems with insects and disease. However, if insect or disease problems occur, treat early with organic or chemical insect repellents and fungicides.

Also see: Plant Problems – causes and cures.