How to Grow Astilbes
Shade gardens don't need to be only shades of green. You can provide bright color with astilbe, a perennial plant with ferny foliage and large, feathery blooms in purples, pinks, white and burgundy. Also called false spirea, astilbe blooms in the summer and, depending on variety, can be anywhere from a dwarf 6 inches to 4 feet tall. The flowers remain attractive even after their color fades and they dry, and they can be left on the plant for fall and winter interest. Astilbes are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture gardening zones 4 to 8. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Plant astilbe in a cool, shady area. The plant will burn if exposed to too much direct sunlight.
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Grow astilbe in rich, slightly moist soil mixed with peat or humus. A layer of mulch will help hold in moisture and provide further nutrients as the mulch decomposes.
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Water frequently to keep the soil moist. Astilbe will not survive if allowed to dry out.
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Fertilize with an all-purpose fertilizer in the spring, following the package directions. Scratch the fertilizer into the soil around the plants base, but do not leave fertilizer on the foliage, as this will burn the leaves.
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Divide astilbe every few years, as clumps become large and overgrown. Dig up the entire clump in late fall, when flowering is done. Carefully pull the root ball into several pieces, and replant them separately. Plant with the soil level at the base of the plant's stem, spreading roots out in the growing hole.
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Cover with a layer of mulch in cold-winter areas to protect the plant during snowy periods.
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Tips & Warnings
Astilbe looks best when grown in groups of three or more.
Excellent companions to astilbe are ferns, hostas, iris and impatiens.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
