Astilbe (ah-STILL-bee) is a wonderful group of clump-forming perennials for the shade garden. These rewarding plants offer ferny, fine-textured foliage, and showy panicles of white, cream, pink, violet, purple, red or scarlet flowers that rise from the center of the plant.

In the opinion of renowned garden writer Allen Lacy, the astilbe is one of those plants that draws the eye across the landscape. Multidimensional, versatile and adaptable to a variety of settings, it is one of the "steeples and spikes" in a panoramic garden. "Astilbes are tremendous weapons in the fight against one-dimensional ground covers (rugs) and mounding plants (dumplings)." 

The genus Astilbe hails from Asia, while one species, Astilbe biternata, (Appalachian false goat’s beard) is native to the southeastern United States. In their native settings they thrive in moist grassy habitats and lightly shaded, damp woods. Although ‘astilbe’ is derived from the Greek word meaning ‘not shining’ or ‘without brilliance’, that’s a misnomer. Depending on the species or cultivar, plants produce green to bronze and near-chocolate foliage. They bloom from two to six weeks during late spring and summer and their upright habit adds a vertical and very colorful counterpoint to other shade garden staples like hostas.

Plants range in size from about 10 inches tall to more than four feet. Low-growing cultivars, such as Astilbe ‘Sprite’, offer interest at the front of a shade-garden border. Taller plants can be grouped together for a stunning effect. Astilbe flowers can be plume-like and tightly packed or airy and delicate with stems upright or arching. When the plants are finished blooming, the ferny foliage continues to provide a lovely contrast to large-leaved shade-garden plants. The seed heads fade to buff and beige, providing interest in winter.

Plant astilbes in spring when the soil is often moist and they will have the entire summer to establish a good root system. A few shovelfuls of compost mixed in the planting hole will help amend heavy clay soil. When plants are kept evenly moist, the foliage typically remains attractive until fall. You can remove the faded flower stalks or let them stand for winter interest. Cut dried leaves and stems to the ground in spring to allow fresh foliage to emerge. Plants may be divided every three to four years, preferably in the spring. Bonus: Astilbe tends to be slugs, deer- and rabbit-resistant, and tolerates the soil under black walnuts.

In his 1922 “Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture,” author Liberty Hyde Bailey wrote, “As a border plant, astilbe is one of the best of our hardy herbaceous plants.” More than a century ago, commercial florists were offering astilbes as cut flowers and many astilbe hybrids were available to home gardeners.

There are more than 20 species and 
Astilbes are typically divided into five categories

Astilbe simplicifolia 'Sprite'

 

Simplicifolia

This group features plants with glossy foliage forming tight mounds topped by airy panicles of star-like soft pink flowers. Most cultivars in this group are compact and up to 2 feet tall. A favorite choice of the lowest-growing, ground-cover type.

Astilbe chinensis var. davidii 

 

Arendsii

German nurseryman Georg Arends developed this group by crossing several species; (Astilbe chinensis var. davidii with Astilbe astilboides, and members of the Japonica and Thunbergii Groups) that resulted in colorful hybrids in a range of colors, sizes and bloom time. Plants in this group make up the majority of astilbe sales in the U.S.

Astilbe chinensis var. pumila

 

Chinensis

This later-blooming species helps extend the bloom season into late summer. Foliage is often bronze-green in color. Though garden performance is far superior in moist soil, members of this species are moderately drought tolerant. Shorter varieties such as 'Pumila' make excellent ground covers.

Astilbe Japonica False goat

 

Japonica

This is an early flowering species with glossy green leaves that are often tinged with red. The flowers are dense, pyramidal clusters, creating a contrast with round or mounding shade plants.

Astilbe Thunbergii

 

Thunbergii

This group is distinguished by its late bloom and distinctive open, nodding flower clusters. The graceful blooms are held on tall stems that rise above blue-green foliage.

Hostas

 

In Your Garden

Astilbes make good companions for hostas, Epimedium (barrenwort), hellebores, native bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Canadian ginger, Hakonechloa grass, Aruncus (goat’s beard), Thalictrum, Pulmonaria and other shade-loving perennials.  

Astilbe chinensis var. taquetii 'Superba'

The tallest of the genus, Astilbe chinensis var. taquetii 'Superba', featuring purple-rose flowers grows 4 to 5 feet quickly spreading a fine ground cover. The famous German hybridizer George Arends (1862–1952) considered the astilbe a favorite introducing 74 new cultivars in 50 years. Astilbe arendsii cultivars (May to June) requiring constant moisture. Astilbe x arendsii 'Fanal' (red) lines the Waterfall Garden path along with Astilbe thunbergii' Straussenfeder' (salmon pink). The red foliage of 'Fanal' echoing the nearby surrounding mahogany red fallen Scots pine needles.

Astilbe x arendsii 'Amethyst' (lavender)

Throughout the Lakeside Gardens and along the shoreline, look for masses of Astilbe x arendsii  'Amethyst' (lavender), 'Deutschland' (white), 'Finale' (soft pink), and Astilbe rosea 'Peach Blossom' (peachy pink).

Astilbe x arendsii 'Gladstone' (white)

Outside the Visitor Center, you'll see Astilbe x arendsii 'Gladstone' (white).

At the С�Ŷ���Ƶ, these lovely perennials are integrated throughout many garden vignettes, from the high-volume Waterfall Garden to the serene pond plantings of the Landscape Gardens, and along vast stretches of the Lakeside Gardens. undulate through a stand of American hornbeam, sweep as ground covers in a wooded glen, line trails of contrasting colors, and mix with spring hostas, ferns and columbines, and summer daylilies.