About
Astilbe 'Delft Lace' is a clump-forming perennial that reaches heights of 60-90 cm. It features finely serrated, deeply divided dark green foliage that exhibits a purple tint in spring. The plant produces tall, upright flower spikes adorned with feathery plumes of soft apricot pink, highlighted by dark salmon tones. These blooms emerge from pink buds in the late summer.
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
- Partial shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, West-facing, North-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Bogs, Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens, Patio and container plants
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 affected by leaf scorch in hot sun. Good for waterside planting. See Astilbe cultivation
- Pruning
- Plumes flower once and gradually fade over several weeks. Remove spent flowers stalks to improve appearance or leave in place to dry for ornamental interest
- Propagation
- Propagate by division, divide overcrowded clumps every three to four years and discard older rhizomes to maintain vigour.
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to vine weevil
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to powdery mildews