About

This perennial forms dense clumps and ranks among the tallest varieties, reaching heights of up to 2 meters. It features dark green foliage with a hint of bronze, and in late summer, it produces upright, slender clusters of purplish-pink blooms.

About the genus

Astilbe are perennial plants with rhizomes, characterized by their dissected leaves that typically have a ternate structure. In summer, they produce upright panicles filled with small flowers in shades of white, pink, or purple. The dried flower heads persist into autumn, adding interest to the landscape.

Growing conditions

Sunlight

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil type

Clay, Loam

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained, Poorly-drained

Aspect

West-facing, East-facing, North-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H7

Plant details

Plant type

Bogs, Herbaceous Perennial

Habit

Clump forming

Foliage

Deciduous

Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Time to full height

2-5 years

Suggested uses

Cottage and informal garden

Native to

China, Japan

Care notes

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained or boggy soil in dappled shade, or in indirect sun where the soil remains moisture-retentive in summer. Drought intolerant, may be damaged in hot sun. Good for waterside planting. See Astilbe cultivation

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Propagation

Propagate by division in late winter or early spring, pot divisions under glass and plant out in late spring

Pest resistance

May be susceptible to vine weevil

Disease resistance

May be susceptible to Powdery mildews