Astilbe (photo). Astilbe Arends, Astilbe Chinese, Astilbe Japanese, other types and varieties of astilbe. Astilbe planting and care in open ground types and varieties photos with names propagation by cuttings Astilbe thunberg herbaceous plants for open ground
Astilbe or astilbe (lat. Astilbe) belongs to a genus of perennial plants from the family Saxifragaceae or Saxifragaceae. This genus includes eighteen species.
The plant is quite unpretentious, and its cultivation does not cause problems even for novice gardeners. However, to understand why astilbe grows poorly, you should know the botanical characteristics of the crop.
Botanical characteristics
A perennial variety of herbaceous plant is characterized by the presence of an aerial part that dies off in the winter. The average height of an erect stem can vary greatly depending on the species - in the range of 8-200 cm. Also characteristic is the presence of numerous basal leaves, which are located on long petioles.
The leaves have a dark green or reddish-green color. Flowers are small in size. Depending on the variety, they can be white or pink, lilac, red or purple and are collected in apical panicle inflorescences. Flowering time may vary. Most often, ornamental crops bloom in the summer, after which a fruit-box with seeds is formed, which can be used to propagate astilbe to decorate a garden or summer cottage.
Astilbe: cultivation and care (video)
Photo gallery
Description of the best varieties
A detailed description of the varietal forms of astilbe allows you to make the right choice - in favor of the most suitable plant from the point of view of decorativeness and the most unpretentious. About ten plant species have been widely used in culture, on the basis of which, thanks to selection, many hybrid forms and varieties have been obtained.
Hybrid Arends' astilbe or Astilbe arendsii has become popular due to its ability to grow and develop well in partial shade and high winter hardiness. In addition, this ornamental crop is practically not affected by diseases and pests.
| Name | Latin name | Plant height | Leaves | Bloom |
| "Amethyst" | Astilbe arendsii "Amethyst" | 100 cm | Greens | Lush, lilac flowers |
| "Bumalda" | Astilbe arendsii "Bumalda" | 40-60 cm | With a reddish tint | The inflorescences are white with a slight crimson tint |
| Astilbe arendsii "Spartan" | 80 cm | Dark green, shiny | The flowers are small, fragrant, bright red, collected in a dense, conical, paniculate inflorescence | |
| "Etna" | Astilbe arendsii "Etna" | 60 cm | Dark green, shiny | The inflorescence is large, openwork, paniculate, deep red |
| "Ellie" | Astilbe japonica "Ellie" | 50-60 cm | Dark green, hard, deep cut | Large, openwork, paniculate white inflorescence |
Astilbe chinensis, from the Latin Astilbe chinensis, is a perennial herbaceous plant. It has become widespread in home gardening and landscape design due to its unpretentiousness and high decorative properties at the flowering stage.
| Name | Latin name | Plant height | Leaves | Bloom |
| Visions in ed. | Astilbe chinensis "Visions in Red" | 0.4-0.5 m | Greens | Fluffy inflorescences of dark crimson color |
| "Pumila" | Astilbe chinensis "Pumila" | 30 cm | Dark green | Lilac-pink flowers |
| "Milk and Honey" | Astilbe chinensis "Milk and Honey" | 70-80 cm | Light green, darkens over time | Creamy white with a pinkish tint powerful inflorescences |
| "Heart and Soul" | Astilbe chinensis "Heart and Soul" | 50-60 cm | Bipinnate, green with a reddish tint | Large, fluffy pale pink with purple inflorescences |
| "Superba" | Astilbe chinensis "Superba" | 100 cm | Greens | Purple-pink inflorescences collected in openwork panicles |
Astilbe japonica or Astilbe japonica differs from other types of ornamental crops in its small, densely growing leaves with a pronounced ornament. The average height of an adult plant does not exceed 80 cm. After drying, the inflorescences practically do not lose their shape and continue to serve as a decoration for the flower garden until mid-autumn.
| Name | Latin name | Plant height | Leaves | Bloom |
| "Montgomery" | Astilbe japonica "Montgomery" | 50-60 cm | Bright green | Red colored inflorescences |
| "Bremen" | Astilbe japonica "Bremen" | 40-50 cm | Emerald shade | Small crimson flowers are collected in wide fluffy panicles |
| "Vesuvius" | Astilbe japonica "Vesuvius" | 60 cm | Complex, openwork, glossy, with burgundy petioles | Small, fragrant, collected in paniculate inflorescences of fiery red color |
| "Bonn" | Astilbe japonica "Bonn" | 70 cm | Dark green and shiny | Large, openwork, paniculate inflorescence of dark carmine or pink color |
| "Cologne" | Astilbe japonica "Koln" | 50-80 cm | Brownish-green color | Dense fluffy carmine-pink inflorescences |
| "Deutschland" | Astilbe japonica "Deutschland" | 50 cm | Dark green, glossy, on reddish petioles | Small-flowered inflorescence of light pink color |
Landing technology
It is recommended to plant or replant on the north side of the property, in the shade of trees or shrubs. Some varieties and hybrid forms are suitable for growing in well-lit areas, where they bloom as abundantly as possible, but for a short time. Loamy soils with a high level of groundwater are preferred for astilbe. Optimal acidity levels are pH 5.5-6.5.
Before planting the plant, you should carry out a deep digging of the soil, removing all weeds and adding compost, rotted manure or rotted peat. When applying fertilizers, you should count on average a couple of buckets for each square meter of planting area. Planting holes should have dimensions of 20 x 30 cm. The standard distance between plants is about 30-35 cm. After planting, it is recommended to mulch with humus or peat.
Planting with rhizomes
The most convenient planting material from the point of view of propagation is parts of the astilbe rhizome. It is necessary to plant a division of rhizome that has at least a pair of dormant buds. It is necessary to use material exclusively from a healthy adult plant. Propagation using part of the rhizome is carried out in early spring.
A flat area with fertile soil should be allocated for planting. You should first prepare the planting holes, into which you first need to pour a nutrient mixture based on peat and sand. The rooting process of the planted cuttings takes approximately two or three weeks, so this method of propagation is very popular in home gardening.
Sowing seeds
A less common way to grow astilbe is to obtain seedling material by sowing seeds. It should be remembered that the seed material of hybrid forms is not capable of preserving the characteristic varietal characteristics, therefore seeds collected on one’s own plot are not suitable for sowing.
The technology for sowing astilbe is as follows:
- thoroughly mix equal parts of peat and river sand;
- fill planting containers with a drainage hole with the resulting mixture;
- lay a layer of snow no more than a centimeter thick on the lightly compacted mixture;
- Carefully place very small astilbe seeds on top of the snow;
- after the snow has melted and the seeds have sunk into the soil, the container should be put in a cool place or on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator;
- About a month after sowing, the container should be moved to a warmer and brighter room.
Until mass shoots appear, it is very important to maintain constant soil moisture by spraying it with water at room temperature from a spray bottle. After a pair of true leaves appear, the flower seedlings must be plucked, pinching off a third of the root. Strengthened seedlings are planted in open ground in the last ten days of spring or early summer.
Rules for growing in open ground
Proper care of astilbe allows you to decorate the area with abundant and long-flowering ornamental crops. Caring for the plant is not difficult; it is enough to carry out the following measures in a timely manner:
- throughout the entire growing season, decorative flower crops should be fed with basic complex fertilizers;
- to obtain abundant and long-lasting flowering of astilbe, it is necessary to enrich the root layer of soil with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus;
- in early spring, it is advisable to apply approximately 25-30 g of complex fertilizers per square meter of planting;
- in mid-summer, plants need to be fertilized with potassium nitrate at the rate of a couple of tablespoons per bucket of water;
- Fertilizing with superphosphate at the end of the flowering season involves applying 20-22 g per plant in the form of a solution;
- astilbe belongs to the category of moisture-loving plants, and excessive drying of the soil layer negatively affects its growth and development, therefore, in especially hot and dry summer weather, the plant must be watered daily in the morning and evening;
- Regular and abundant irrigation measures are especially important at the stage of active formation of inflorescences;
- in order to maintain optimal humidity levels, it is recommended to mulch the soil with sawdust;
- To prevent damage from major diseases and pests, astilbe should be treated several times a season with Confidor, Aktara and Karbofos.
After flowering, mandatory pruning of peduncles is carried out. It is very important to take into account the fact that in conditions of little snow, many varieties freeze slightly, so in the autumn it is advisable to mulch with peat, followed by covering with spruce branches.
Land for planting
Astilbe is highly valued not only by professional landscape designers, but also by amateur gardeners due to its lush, long-lasting flowering, as well as its unpretentiousness. Even novice gardeners can grow it. In favorable conditions, with regular care, astilbe can grow for at least fifteen years in one place.
It is very important to choose the right site for growing this ornamental plant. Astilbe develops best in light shade. In this case, it is possible to obtain the most saturated color of the leaves and the most vibrant flowering. When planting a flower crop in open ground in very sunny areas, flowering is short-lived, and the leaves may turn yellow and dry out in a short time. Strong shading also negatively affects flowering.
Features of reproduction
As a rule, astilbe propagation is carried out by vegetative and seed methods. Vegetative propagation of an ornamental crop involves dividing an adult bush and propagating by buds. The seed method makes it possible to obtain new varieties of astilbe.
Pre-stratified seeds are sown in early or mid-March. Seed material should be placed in a planting container 15-17 cm deep, filled with a sand-peat mixture and covered with a layer of snow. Gradually melting snow moistens the soil and immerses the seeds to the depth necessary for development. Crops should be covered with film and placed in a cool room for three weeks. After a pair of true leaves appear, a dive is carried out. Further care consists of watering and maintaining the temperature at 20-22°C.
Most often, in home gardening conditions, astilbe is propagated by dividing adult plants. In this case, a sharp garden knife is used to cut the root extracted from the soil into several parts with buds. High-quality planting material must not be overdried and have at least four healthy, viable buds. Dividing bushes should be done in early spring. After planting, plants need to be provided with high-quality, regular watering.
Propagation by buds is one of the simplest and fastest ways to obtain a new, profusely flowering plant. Such propagation occurs in the spring, when the shoots of the decorative crop begin to actively grow. Using a sharp and clean garden knife, cut off the buds from the beginning of the rhizome, after which you need to sprinkle the cuts with wood ash. The resulting planting material is planted in a mixture of three parts peat and part gravel, and then covered with a film to create a greenhouse effect. Young and strong plants are transplanted to a permanent place in early autumn or only next spring.
Application in garden design
The most popular in landscape design are tall decorative
garden forms. Astilbe coexists well with hosts, and hosta leaves are able to maintain optimal soil moisture and prevent the root system of the ornamental crop from overheating on hot days.
The plants are very decorative even in the absence of inflorescences, and also do not require pruning or too much shelter for the winter. The absolute unpretentiousness of the ornamental crop made it possible to grow astilbe in not very favorable soil and climatic conditions. Flowering plants are successfully cultivated not only in central Russia and the Moscow region, but also in the Urals and Siberia.
A perennial herbaceous plant from the saxifrage family, Japanese astilbe, has become very popular and beloved among gardeners. In nature, there are more than 20 species of Japanese astilbe flowers. This perennial grows in the form of a bush, about half a meter long, and with a matte shade of petals. Therefore, the botanist from Scotland, Lord Hamilton, gave the name astilbe, which translated means “without shine.” The plant itself came to us from the Asian continent, North America and the islands of Japan.
Description of Japanese astilbe
A beautiful, compact, lush and elegant shrub. It has double pinnate leaves and is dark green in color. The branches of Japanese astilbe are burgundy in color, which makes it more attractive both during flowering and after it.
Japanese astilbe blooms with white or pink small flowers. They grow 30 cm long, very fragrant, with a sweetish smell.
Astilbes in white or pink tones have been grown in home gardening for about two hundred years. These shrubs bloom in mid-summer. The beauty of their flowering lasts about one month, which is why flower growers fell in love with it.
Growing Japanese astilbe
The most important thing in growing this flowering bush is to choose the right place for its planting and further residence:
- The place where astilbe will grow should be shady or semi-shady;
- It is necessary to take into account the distance between bushes when planting;
- The soil for planting Japanese astilbe must be dug up, fertilized and cleared of weeds.
Japanese astilbe does not like a lot of light, because in nature it grows on river banks, in dense places, in forests, and in lowlands. But she really loves moisture. Therefore, in partial shade the flower will bloom profusely and for a long time.
You also need to remember, the larger the bush, because they grow up to two meters, the wider the distance between them should be. Larger varieties are planted half a meter apart.
But there are varieties of white astilbe and pink astilbe that grow and bloom well in good sunlight. Their flowers are slightly different from the others. They are smaller in size, but bloom much faster.
Japanese astilbe can be planted and replanted from spring until late autumn, even while it is blooming. Only after transplantation, the plant must be watered abundantly for two weeks.
Japanese astilbe is planted as follows:
- Dig a hole up to 25 cm deep and fertilize it;
- Take a sprout for planting, clean its roots from the ground and remove the dried roots with pruners or a sharp knife;
- You can put the seedling in a bucket with a small amount of water for a couple of hours, and add any growth stimulant there, this will help the plant take root well;
- The distance between seedlings should be at least 30 cm.
Choosing soil for Japanese astilbe
Japanese astilbe is not a picky plant when it comes to soil. However, every gardener wants his flowers to be lush and the most beautiful. Therefore, the plants need a little help. To do this you need:
- It’s good if the chosen location has close groundwater;
- The soil for planting a flower must be fertilized;
- The presence of phosphorus and potassium is necessary for good plant growth.
To ensure that the top layer of soil for planting a flower is well fertilized, you need to use organic fertilizers. This is where cow dung or chicken droppings will come to the rescue.
You need to sprinkle purchased mineral fertilizers onto the dug bed, meter by meter. They are sold in all specialized stores. Then, having dug a hole for the sprout, you need to add 1 tbsp. spoon of bone meal.
Fill the hole with organic matter prepared in advance. For 10 liters of rain or settled water, add one liter jar of manure or droppings and mix everything well. Leave it to brew for a couple of days, somewhere in the shade. One half-liter jar of fertilizer per hole will be enough.
Astilbe bushes can grow in one place for up to 10 years, but for this they need to be fertilized. This procedure is done twice a year, in early spring and late autumn.
How to plant and propagate Japanese astilbe
Plant the astilbe sprout in the prepared hole and evenly level its roots on the ground. Pour ash onto the bottom, then sprinkle it carefully, so as not to injure the root, with loose soil, lightly pressing it down. And sprinkle sawdust or chopped tree bark on the topmost layer. This is done so that the moisture is retained longer, otherwise the plant will dry out.
If there are already several Japanese astilbe bushes in the beds and you need to propagate them, there are several ways to do this:
- Dividing an adult bush - dig up the bush, cut off the shoots, leaving 10 cm each with three or five buds. Carefully divide the root system into several smaller bushes, while removing dry roots;
- Reproduction by budding - this requires a young shoot that has just appeared in early spring, with one or more buds. It is carefully separated from the bush along with part of the root, and the cut area is sprinkled with ash. Then this shoot is planted in a prepared pot with peat soil and covered with film. Periodically water and open the film. The seedling is ready for planting in the fall, or next spring;
- If you propagate wild species of astilbe, then use seeds collected from the previous year’s bush.
Caring for this flower will not take much time. Everything beginner gardeners need to know - Japanese astilbe loves moisture. Therefore, especially on hot days, flowers need to be watered twice a day, morning and evening. And even if the earth dries out for a short time, the plant will no longer be able to fully delight with its beauty. Its flowers will be small, the leaves will be sparse, the bush will become bald and will fade very quickly.
Diseases and pests
Japanese astilbe may be susceptible to certain diseases:
Having identified a disease on plants in time, you can get rid of them with purchased drugs. It is better to remove flowers infected with root-knot nematodes from the flowerbed.
Advice for novice gardeners: after the astilbe has bloomed, do not rush to cut it, because the dried flowers will delight you and your neighbors with their beauty for some time.
With the arrival of autumn, before the onset of the first frosts, the plant needs to be prepared. Japanese astilbe tolerates winter frosts well, but temperature changes have a bad effect on its condition. Therefore you need to do the following:
- The plant needs to be trimmed, leaving only a couple of centimeters of branches;
- Cover it with earth on all sides;
- Cover the cut flowers with spruce branches;
- Cover the distance between the bushes with Christmas tree needles or sawdust.
You can combine Japanese astilbe with many plants in your garden. Astilbe bushes will look beautiful in front of other, taller shrubs. Also among decorative conifers, single planted Japanese astilbe goes well together. Flowers feel comfortable near swimming pools, home ponds, and fountains. They go well with hostas, irises, and ferns.
A perennial, spectacularly decorative flowering herbaceous plant, astilbe has more than 30 species. The Latin name of the plant has no relation to the description of its inflorescences, since the definition of astilbe, which came from the Greek language, literally translates as “without shine.” Such a characteristic could describe the species that gave its name to the entire genus.
Main characteristics of the plant
There is wild astilbe in nature, species of which grow in East Asia and North America. The plants are moisture-loving; they grow in shady deciduous forests in places where abundant moisture remains even in the summer heat. In the harsh Canadian winters, the plants showed resistance to cold - they wintered safely under the snow at temperatures down to -37 °C.
The first specimens were brought to European flower growers from Japan at the beginning of the 19th century by the Swedish naturalist Carl Peter Thunberg and the German physician and naturalist Philip Franz von Siebold.
Astilbe is a perennial herbaceous plant of the rhizomatous type; its above-ground part dies off in the fall. Erect stems can reach 2 m. The abundance is usually dark green basal leaves with long petioles. Inflorescences in the form of panicles of different lengths consist of small flowers of pink, white, lilac, scarlet, and burgundy. The usual flowering time is mid-summer - June or July. The flowers look very impressive, the duration of flowering of each panicle can be called high - 3-5 weeks. It produces fruits in the form of boxes filled with very small seeds: there are about 20 thousand in 1 gram.
Astilbe has a woody rhizome, its density is not the same, it depends on the specific species and variety. During the active vegetative period, the top of the rhizome is replenished with daughter buds, they multiply, and at the same time the lower part slowly dies off. Over the course of a year, the rhizome grows upward by 3-5 cm. This feature requires, before the onset of winter, to cover the root protruding from the ground by adding fertile soil to it.
The inflorescences of different types of astilbe have different shapes - pyramidal and diamond-shaped, paniculate and drooping, distinguished by their special grace.
Inflorescences have different filling densities. One variety has small flower petals, due to this the inflorescences look airy and give the impression of openwork, the other has elongated flower petals, its inflorescences seem soft and fluffy.
Planting methods and care
Proper planting of the astilbe plant greatly simplifies its cultivation and care. Where exactly to plant - the question is decided in advance. Most varieties do not like excessive sun exposure. Astilbe is comfortable in the shade of trees and broad-leaved plants. A little sun in the morning and a little in the evening is enough for her. Planting in a shady place, where the sun does not shine at all, can lead to the fact that the greenery will become dense and there will be a lot of it, but the flowering will suffer, it will become poor and ineffective. The astilbe plant is distinguished by more abundant, but shorter flowering.
This flower grows well in sunny places. But when caring for it, it is important to remember that you must take care of covering the soil at the root part, otherwise direct sunlight can cause significant damage to it.
When astilbe is planted, planting and care in open ground require compliance with the conditions necessary for the normal development of the flower. It is advisable for any variety to be protected from the north. Otherwise, the rooted young shoots will suffer from frost in the spring. Buildings, large bushes or a green hedge will serve as protection. Since astilbe needs moist soil and air, this factor is fundamental. The best option is near a reservoir. An unsuccessful choice of location leads to the fact that at the peak of summer heat and lack of moisture, the edges of the leaves begin to burn, and then the buds and flower stalks dry out.
Propagation by dividing rhizomes
Astilbe is grown from seeds, by renewal buds or by root division. To obtain planting material from the rhizome in the fall, the bush is dug up, all leaves and lower dead sections of the root are removed. The living root, which has upper vegetative growths, is divided so that about 3-5 buds remain on each part. The depth of planting the resulting cuttings should be such that the buds are covered with soil by 3-5 cm. The distance between planted plants should be 30 cm. Then mulch with fine tree bark or peat. In order for the plant to grow stronger, all flower stalks are removed in the first year, postponing admiring the abundant flowering of astilbe until the second year after planting.
For the astilbe plant, cultivation from seeds is carried out in containers with peat-sandy soil. For 1 part sand take 3 parts peat. In March-April, the prepared seeds are mixed with a small amount of dry fine sand and sown evenly in prepared containers. Mixing with sand is necessary, otherwise the incredibly small astilbe seeds cannot be dispersed evenly. The seeded containers are not watered, but sprayed generously with water from a spray bottle so as not to wash away the seeds, which have low germination rates.
Sprouts appear after 3-4 weeks. They are picked after the first true leaves have formed. By the beginning of June, young plants are planted in neutral or slightly acidic fertile soil, maintaining a distance of 30-50 cm between them.
The first flowering of plants grown from seeds will be in the third year. But this method is used when species astilbe is propagated; cultivation from seeds is practiced by breeders. Amateur gardeners carry out varietal propagation by dividing the rhizomes or by renewal buds.
Reproduction by renewal buds
Astilbe is planted with renewal buds in greenhouses. The method, which is also called the “heel”, consists of cutting out a renewal bud from the plant in early spring along with part of the rhizome. In the greenhouse, the fertile soil in which the “heel” takes root is sprinkled with a peat-sand mixture (the same as for planting seeds) in a layer of 5-7 cm. Flowers from the greenhouse are planted in open ground in the spring of next year, and in the summer they will bloom .
Seating and changing
In favorable conditions, astilbe exhibits rapid growth. At the same time, it is necessary to divide the rhizomes every 5-6 years, for example, for the Pomegranate variety, otherwise the intensity of flowering will fade - it will become less abundant and short-lived. To plant the cuttings, prepare holes as deep and wide as a spade, pour 1-2 handfuls of ash and bone meal, mineral fertilizers and humus about 25-30g into them, mix and pour in plenty of water. There should be 25-30 cm between planted plants; they are covered with a layer of mulch of 3-5 cm.
It is permissible to replant astilbe during the period of active growth, even during active flowering, the main thing is to provide those plants to which the replantation was applied with abundant regular watering for 2-3 weeks.
Astilbe care
In the spring, after the appearance of above-ground shoots, the first feeding is done, the plant is fed a second time in the fall after flowering has ended. For astilbe, it is recommended to use complex fertilizers, but if this is not possible, then nitrogen fertilizers should predominate in the spring feeding, and phosphorus and potassium fertilizers in the autumn. Fertilizer granules and powders are pre-diluted with water to avoid possible burns to the stems and leaves of the plant. Caring for astilbe is mostly traditional, without any special requirements:
- loosening the soil;
- watering;
- weeding pores as necessary;
- cutting off faded flower stalks.
On hot summer days, the top layer of soil may dry out, and because of this, the upper young roots of astilbe may die.
Therefore, during the hottest and therefore dangerous period for the astilbe plant, caring for it consists of the urgent need for abundant watering twice a day - in the morning and in the evening, when the sun is not very active.
In autumn, the soil near the plants is sprinkled with ash, adult bushes are mulched with a 2-3 cm layer of compost, which will serve as protection for the regeneration buds from frost.
To prevent astilbe from losing its decorative properties, annual fertilizing is carried out, the composition of which is determined depending on soil moisture. Compost and peat are added to dry soils instead of mineral fertilizers.
If a plant, in particular the Pomegranate variety, grows in comfortable conditions with proper care, then it will not lose its decorative appeal for 5-6 years. After this period, replanting with division of plant bushes is necessary. They also practice the so-called rejuvenation, in which the bush is not dug up, but part of it is separated. The places where the cut was made are sprinkled with ash, and the hole left after the removed part is filled with fresh fertile soil.
Popular varieties of astilbe
The basis for cultural selection of the astilbe plant is 10-12 species. Flower growers in many countries have turned with interest to the study of plants of this spectacular genus. As a result of their painstaking work, today hybrid astilbe has more than 200 varieties. Among the entire varietal diversity, several groups are the most popular - Chinese astilbe, Japanese and Arends hybrids, named after the German breeder Georg Adalbert Arends, who at the beginning of the 20th century became the founder of the modern breeding tradition of obtaining new astilbe hybrids.
Chinese hybrids
Chinese astilbe loves moist, uncompacted soil, but some varieties develop well on clay soils provided they receive appropriate mineral fertilizing. Grows 100 cm tall, blooms from mid-June to late August. White, lilac, pink flowers are bordered by complex tripartite leaves. The most common:
- The Superba variety is a tall bush with delicate pink panicles of inflorescences. It blooms for a month, starting in mid-August.
- The Veronica Klose variety is distinguished by lush inflorescences of pink and lilac tones.
- Astilbe chinensis Purpurkerts is valued for its late flowering. Looks good in design.
Japanese astilbe grows up to 80 cm. These are small bushes with white or pink panicles consisting of small flowers. It blooms for 2-3 weeks in mid-summer, but once it fades, it does not lose its attractiveness. Dry flower stalks can remain as a unique elegant decoration until late autumn. The varieties are winter-hardy, moist loamy soils are a comfortable growing environment for them. They have their own characteristics:
- The Deutschland variety is notable for its dense white inflorescences. It is not recommended to be planted in open sun; on hot summer days it requires abundant regular watering.
- The Europe variety is a hemispherical bush, reaching 60 cm in diameter. The colors of the inflorescences range from pale pink to lilac tones.
- Astilbe Japanese Montgomery is a spherical bush up to 70 cm in diameter. Fluffy or delicate panicles of inflorescences are bright red or burgundy.
- Astilbe japonica Rhineland is considered unpretentious. The inflorescences are pink. Grows up to 90 cm, on almost any soil, grows well in the shade, and is not afraid of spaces open to the sun.
It is constantly replenished with newly created varieties, such as Nemo, bred by breeders in the Arends tradition - crossing Astilbe David as a base variety with other species. This is how the Pomegranate variety was obtained. Powerful bushes up to 100 cm tall, spherical or pyramidal in shape. The varieties are usually characterized by dark green leaves and white, lilac, red, pink inflorescences. These varieties of astilbe bloom longer than all others - up to 40 days. New and traditional varieties:
- A series of “precious stones”, which opens astilbe Diamant - a bush up to 80 cm with dense snow-white or pink pyramidal inflorescences. Shows lush, abundant flowering even under the scorching sun. The series continues with astilbe Spinel, lilac Opal, purple with a lilac tint, Amethyst. Astilbe Garnet closes the series with the shortest growth (only 50-60 cm).
- Augustleichten is a late-blooming bush with lacy bright red panicles.
- Astilbe Thunberg grows up to 100 cm. The pink inflorescences are racemose. Blooms in the second half of July.
- Gloria Purpurea reaches a height of 70 cm. A spreading, dense bush with violet-pink flowers and dark red (greening with age) leaves.
- Astilbe Cappuccino is distinguished by chocolate stems with white inflorescences at the ends. The leaves are openwork dark green. The variety requires proper shading and constant humidity.
- Astilbe Radius is a compact bush up to 75 cm with glossy dark green leaves with jagged edges. Medium-density red panicles emit a light aroma.
- Astilbe pink Gloria is an unpretentious winter-hardy variety up to 80 cm. It has unique fluffy diamond-shaped inflorescences with a light aroma and original openwork foliage. Blooms for 30 days.
- Astilbe America reaches 70 cm, in rhombic inflorescences there are large lavender-pink flowers. It is unpretentious to growing conditions, therefore it is successfully used in city gardens and parks.
- Astilbe Nemo is a new variety with strong, tall stems and dark green foliage. Blooms profusely with bright pink dense feathers.
- Red astilbe blooms with bright red, pomegranate-like, diamond-shaped inflorescences. Glossy, double-pinnate leaves with reddish petioles give the plant a striking appearance when it is or is not yet in bloom.
Possible pests
Representatives of this genus have practically no enemies. Many years of observations and research have failed to identify specific diseases or pests that could cause astilbe any significant damage. This is an extremely rare case for a perennial, and it is a unique, undeniable advantage that simplifies the cultivation of astilbe.
There are isolated cases when accumulations of secretions of the larvae of the slobbering pennies are found in the axils of the leaves. You can simply remove them manually. An equally rare case is damage to leaves and buds by the strawberry nematode and damage to the roots by the root-knot nematode. There is only one recipe for such a situation - the destruction of the affected plant.
Sometimes the root is damaged by the larva of the cockchafer, and the leaves are eaten by slugs. This list of possible dangers can be considered exhausted.
Astilbe is valued by both professional gardeners and amateurs for its unpretentiousness, as well as lush and long-lasting flowering. A spreading flower looks impressive, even if it is not blooming - beautiful green leaves of an attractive shape can decorate any garden plot. In this article we will look at how to properly grow astilbe in open ground, planting features, care and photos of different varieties of this bush.
Morphological features and characteristics of the flower
Astilbe looks quite original and presentable, and when flowering it simply transforms the entire garden area. This is decorative bush with dissected leaves bright green in color, located on branches of a reddish tint.
Gardeners prefer astilbe not only because of its lush flowering, but also because, unlike many other plants, it can be in constant shade when planting, creating magnificent colorful flowering. But strong darkening is contraindicated even for this plant. It is best to plant in partial shade.
Astilbe can withstand severe frosts, it is almost not susceptible to diseases, and even many harmful insects fly around it. This is the best option for a beginning gardener.
Astilbe is a perennial flower, its homeland is Asia and Japan. There are more than 300 species in total, each of them has its own size, shape, color and splendor of flowering. The growth of this plant can be in the range of 15-250 cm. The flowers are in panicles 15260 cm long; after flowering, “boxes” appear on them, containing small seeds. Almost all types of astilbe begin flowering in June.
The above-ground part of this plant dies off in winter, and the root system waits out the frosts and begins to grow in the spring. Every year, buds form on top of the roots, giving a constant growth of about 4 cm, and the lower part dies off over time. To ensure comfortable development of the formed buds, after dying, soil is poured onto the exposed root.
As mentioned above, breeders really liked the lush astilbe, so much so that they created more than 300 of its species. We will not describe the advantages of each, but will consider only the most common and beautiful ones.
Astilbe Arends
This is a whole family of astilbes, which is represented by 50 hybrids that appeared as a result of selection of the giant astilbe David. They are distinguished by developed trunks up to 160 cm high. They have a cone-shaped or spherical shape with lush vegetation. The flowers come in completely different shades from pure white to bright purple.
Hybrid bushes differ in both size and long flowering time - more than a month. The most attractive plant species were created by G. Arends, which is why the class of hybrids was named after this scientist. For example, astilbe Gloria is a perennial plant up to 90 cm long during flowering. This bush overwinters easily and can be grown in almost any soil except sandy soil. It is characterized by fluffy pink diamond-shaped inflorescences, a delicate sweet aroma and lacy foliage. Gloria is water-loving, therefore it is best to plant it on the shore of a lake or artificial pond. Other hybrids:
- Lilliput is a small plant up to 30 cm long. Dense pinkish inflorescences begin to bloom at the end of July. Lilliput is perfect for equipping an alpine hill or a small garden flower garden.
- Jump & Jive is a bush up to half a meter long, blooming at the end of June. Produces large, branched, pinkish inflorescences that contrast beautifully with the green foliage.
- Boogie Woogie is also a hybrid species that grows 60-75 cm. In July it will delight you with contrasting pink diamond-shaped flowers, giving the bush a lush shape.
Chinese astilbe
This plant can be up to 120 cm long, it has large leaves near the roots and smaller ones near the inflorescences. Starts flowering quite tightly clustered inflorescences up to 30 cm in size with small purple flowers.
There are also low-growing varieties of Chinese astilbe up to 30 cm long and species with pyramidal flowers. This variety of bushes feels more confident when grown in unshaded areas and in partial shade.
Japanese astilbe
This is not a very tall bush, like the one described above (up to 75 cm) and is characterized by small, densely located leaves with a pronounced pattern. Pink and white flowers bloom much earlier than other varieties, and even after drying, the inflorescences practically do not lose their shape and decorate the flowerbed until the end of autumn.
Japanese astilbe is a hybrid that bred by Arendson in 1838. Since that time, several more species have been cultivated, characterized by frost resistance and excellent survival rate in any region.
Simple leaf astilbe
This hybrid does not tolerate dry climates very well and requires periodic abundant watering. The plant can be up to half a meter long and forms thinned inflorescences.
Methods for propagating astilbe
Growing astilbe in a summer cottage is not a burdensome task. The plant propagates by seed and vegetative methods. During the latter, division of the plant and propagation by buds is possible. And if this method is suitable for beginners, then the seed method allows you to breed new plant varieties.
Propagation using seeds
The seeds are located in boxes that replace beautiful flowers. They must be sown in March, having previously been subjected to stratification. Why are the seeds placed in a container with sand and peat in a 1:1 ratio and placed on top? snow layer 1 cm("snow" from the freezer is suitable).
The snow thaws over time, moistening the soil, enriching it with useful elements and immersing seeds into the soil. When the snow has completely melted, cover the container with film and place it down in the refrigerator for 3 weeks. During this period, the first shoots will form, they will be hardened and will survive the next wintering well.
After 3 weeks, the sprouts of the bush are transferred to a bright room with a temperature of +22C. You need to water the plants very carefully, using a syringe without a needle and directing the water only to the root.
When the seedlings get a little stronger and a few leaves appear, transplant them into small pots.
Attention: varietal astilbes will not be able to reproduce using seeds, since hybrids cannot retain their characteristic characteristics. Bushes grown by this method are used only in breeding.
Reproduction by plant division
As a rule, astilbe is propagated by dividing the plant. This is a fairly simple and effective option.
Dividing the plant:
- Carefully remove the soil near the plant with a diameter of 17-25 cm and remove the earthen ball with the root system.
- Remove excess soil to clear the roots.
- Cut the root into pieces with a knife, and each piece must have at least 3 buds.
- Plant the bushes at a distance of 25 and organize sufficient watering every day.
If you divide the plant at the end of February, then by autumn the bush will delight you with its flowers.
Reproduction using buds
This reproduction is the fastest. It should be carried out in the spring, when the shoots grow. Carefully cut off the buds with roots and cover the cut on the branch with coal, so that harmful organisms will not get inside.
Plant the cuttings in a peat and gravel mixture in a 3:1 ratio and cover with film. Before transplanting the bush into open ground, it must get stronger and begin its development. You can plant a bush on the site only in the fall.
Landing
Planting this plant in open ground and caring for it will not require much skill or expense. The most important thing is to choose the optimal location and organize the necessary conditions. Plants should be planted at the end of May on the north side of the site in partial shade.
If there is a pond in your garden area, then plant astilbe near it. It is advisable to select fertile loamy soil. Acidity is necessary in the range of 5.4-6.4 pH. If there are hostas next to the astilbe, their leaves will not allow the bush to overheat in the summer.
When choosing a place to plant a plant, you need to take into account the flowering time of different species. Thus, astilbe, which blooms in July, prefers dark places, while other species feel equally good in the shade and in the sun.
By and large, any soil is suitable for astilbe, but if you want to get lush and long-lasting flowering, then you need to choose an area where groundwater is close to the surface. You also need to take care of the presence of phosphorus and potassium in the soil. When digging holes for propagation, add complex fertilizers at 35 g/sq. m and 2 ounces of bone meal. If you plant astilbe in a flowerbed, then make a depression of 35 cm and add the above additives mixed with humus.
Stages of planting astilbe:
- Dig up the area and remove all weeds.
- Fertilize the soil.
- If necessary, liming with dolomite flour.
- Make 35 cm indentations with a distance of 40 cm.
- Add fertilizer and water them.
- Plant the sprouts and sprinkle them so that the thickness of the soil above the buds is at least 5 cm.
- Compact the soil and mulch with compost.
Care
The peculiarity of this plant is that the roots grow upward, and do not tend downward, like other bushes. In this case, the lower processes die over time. And if you don’t provide normal nutrition to the new roots, the plant will die. Therefore, every year you need to sprinkle the bare roots with soil and not let them dry out.
The main requirement during care is constant watering. Regular mulching of the soil will protect the roots from the sun and also provide an opportunity to control appearance of weeds.
Do not forget that the frequency and amount of watering will depend on the type of astilbe, so study the characteristics of the selected variety, watch a training video and photo on planting this plant. During the formation of flowers, all species require increased watering, and if the summer is hot, then it should be done twice a day. You need to feed the bush in the spring, adding nitrogen fertilizers. After fertilizing, the soil needs to be mulched.
Pests
Since the homeland of astilbe is far beyond the borders of our country, it has no enemies here, but still it is liked by some insects. There are quite a few of them, but they can still cause significant damage to the plant.
The main pest is the pennitsa. This is a small flying insect that secretes a mica-like foamy solution and lays its larvae in it. As a result, due to the certain chemical composition of these secretions and the presence of larvae, the leaves of the plant curl and covered with various spots. From which the bush partially withers or completely dies. Special chemicals such as Rogor, Aktara, Confidor or Karbofos will help get rid of this pest.
Two more pests are strawberry and root-knot nematodes. The first settles in the leaves and flowers, as a result the leaves curl and become covered with spots, the bush slows down its growth, begins to wither and dies.
To summarize, we can say that due to the variety of species, astilbe looks great as a single plant, flower beds and borders. This bush goes well with various flower and herbal crops, such as daylilies, hostas, lilies and heucheras. Due to their ease of care, these spreading bushes will truly decorate any garden area.
Beautiful astilbe on a summer cottage
From a distance, the flower stalks of the perennial plant astilbe resemble panicles, but when approaching, you can see that there are hundreds of small flowers on a long stem. They look especially impressive against the background and in the shade of conifers, but single plantings are also possible, the main thing is to correctly form the culture according to the tones or plant a perennial of the same color.
Description of varieties and types of perennial flowers astilbe
Astilbe is one of the most decorative perennials, which, unfortunately, is not widespread. This is a plant from the Saxifraga family.
Here is a photo and description of astilbe, suitable for growing in the middle zone:
The stem together with the inflorescence reaches a height of 60-100 cm. The leaves are compound, double-pinnate. Individual leaves with a heart-shaped base, shiny above and matte below. On a sunny day they give an extraordinary play of light.
Flowers - pink, purple of different shades, collected in terminal racemose, rather large (up to 20-30 cm in length) inflorescences. They can be pyramidal, rhombic, drooping.
The description of the roots of the astilbe plant is similar for all species - as a rule, the rhizome is woody, dense, thickened and branched.
The crop blooms in June-August. The seeds are easy to set, but very, very small.
An unusually large number of astilbe varieties have been created. In some, the flower petals are so short that the inflorescences look lacy; in others, due to the many well-developed petals, the inflorescence turns into a fluffy panicle.
To create astilbe varieties, the following species were used:
Chinese
David and Japanese
Thunberg and whole leaf.
A great variety of varieties are classified into 11 groups, of which hybrids are the most popular:
Arends;
Astilboydes;
Chinese, low;
Fringed;
Lemoine;
Pink;
Variegated;
Astilbe Take (Superba variety);
Thunberg;
Astilbe naked.
There are a number of fragile, miniature varieties of the crop, not exceeding 30 cm in height. These plants are suitable for small flower beds or damp places on a hill. The most popular dwarf forms of the perennial flower astilbe: Chinese, curly, hairless (its height is only 10-15 cm).
How to propagate astilbe and care for the flower
It is generally accepted that astilbe is a plant of semi-shaded places that does not like open and long-term sun. It is not for nothing that it is more common in the Baltic states and northern regions of Russia than in the south. However, in the sunny south, astilbe feels great. Its flowering here is lush and luxurious, although shorter lasting.
When planting and caring for astilbe, we must not forget that this plant does not tolerate drought.
Overheating of the soil is detrimental to its rhizome. Therefore, daily watering in the hot evening is mandatory. Nothing retains moisture in the soil better than mulching, which is done with a 3-5 cm layer of humus, sawdust or peat.
How to care for astilbe so that it blooms as long as possible? The soils should be deep, nutritious, loose and moist. When fertilized, the flower is very decorative. It is necessary to feed in the spring, when shoots begin to grow. Like everything during the growth period, it requires nitrogen, preferably organic, that is, fermented mullein, bird droppings. But after flowering it switches exclusively to phosphorus and potassium.
Since a crop can grow in one place for up to 20 years, special attention should be paid to planting. Dig up the soil well, make holes 20-30 cm deep and the same width. 20-25 g of superphosphate, a couple of handfuls of wood ash and half a bucket of humus are poured into each of them. Mix everything, plant the divisions and water them with water. They begin to fertilize from the second year of life.
There are three ways to propagate astilbe: dividing rhizomes, cuttings, seeds. The simplest and most reliable is dividing the bush. It is better to divide the bush in early spring, then you can expect flowering this year. But astilbe is a crop that takes root well when divided both in summer and autumn. The size of the divisions does not matter, but the presence of 1-3 buds and rhizome branches 3-5 cm long is mandatory. After planting the divisions, especially if done in the summer, daily abundant watering is needed for 1-2 weeks. When planting in early spring, watering is also important, but not as abundant. Warmth is much more important in spring. Success is guaranteed in warm springs and problematic in cold springs.
The divisions are planted at a distance of 30-50 cm from each other. Astilbe can also be propagated by green cuttings - also in the spring, but there is much more hassle with them than with root cuttings. They are rooted in a greenhouse under a film and with constant watering, spraying, and ventilation.
