How to Plant Astilbe Bulbs

Astilbe is a shade-loving perennial flowering plant that blooms in the summer. Although you can grow it from seed, astilbe is commonly propagated by root division. Purchase root clumps, or rhizomes, at nurseries and gardening centers in the spring. If you are dividing your own astilbe, make sure that each piece of rhizome has at least three “eyes," or areas from which the plant will sprout.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Gardening fork
• Rake
• Small shovel or gardening trowel

Instructions

1. Fill a bucket with water and drop the astilbe rhizome into it. Allow it to soak for three hours prior to planting. If the astilbe rhizome is freshly divided from a plant in your garden, there is no need to soak the roots, just plant directly.

2. Aerate the soil in the astilbe bed by digging down 12 inches and using the gardening fork to break up any large clumps of soil. Choose a spot in the garden where the astilbe will receive dappled or light shade all day.

3. Pour 3 inches of compost onto the planting bed and use the gardening fork to mix it to a depth of 6 inches. Rake the planting bed until it is smooth and level.

4. Dig planting holes 12 to 24 inches apart for the astilbe rhizomes. Place the rhizomes in the holes and cover them with 1 inch of soil.

5. Water the planting bed to a depth of 4 inches and keep the soil moist, not soggy.

References

• Iowa State University: Astilbe
• The Garden Helper: How To Grow and Care For False Spirea In Your Garden
• “Perennial Reference Guide”; Karleen Shafer and Nicole Lloyd; 2007
• "The Well-Tended Perennial Garden: Planting & Pruning Techniques"; Tracy DiSabato-Aust; 1998