Astilbe
[ah-STILL-bee]

Name_Pronunciation uh-STIL-bee
Deciduous Perennial Upright, Clump-forming

About Astilbes

We don’t play favorites, but if we did, Astilbe might take the cake. These part-to-full shade lovers bring long-lasting, feathery blooms in red, purple, white, and pink that float on tall stems over fern-like leaves. Astilbes are low maintenance and come in a huge variety of sizes and colors, and some can even take full sun as long as they are watered adequately. Dappled light is best for big, gorgeous blooms, but full shade won’t kill these plants, just limit bloom number and size.

Astilbe prefers regular moisture but won’t do well in standing water (no “wet feet” here!). Well-draining, rich soil is this plant’s happy place, but really, Astilbe is quite low maintenance and will bring beauty to your garden for years to come.

Astilbe 'Maggie Daley'  blooms later than most other Astilbe, but makes up for lost time with giant, fuzzy pink/purple towers of blooms.

Astilbe 'Weisse Gloria' puts out sparkling white plumes that really set off surrounding colors, and contrast beautifully with its own dark green leaves.

Astilbe 'Visions' smells delicious and looks even better with deep pink blooms over a shorter-variety foliage mound. 

Astilbe 'Deutschland' has white blooms that show earlier than other white varieties of astilbe, making it a midsummer must for garden contrast.

Astilbe ‘Fanal’ sports narrow, deep red blooms and is more cold-hardy than most of its cousins.

Pros

  • Thrive in part-to-full shade
  • Make great cut flowers
  • Come in a wide variety of colors and sizes
  • Deer and rabbit resistant

Cons

  • Susceptible to powdery mildew (water the soil, not the foliage)
  • Most will not thrive in full sun
  • Need regular moisture to bloom well
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 6 - 72 inches tall. 12 - 30 inches wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Partial Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet: Constant moisture (without puddling). May tolerate full sun in cooler zones with adequate moisture.
Zones 3a - 9b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Colorful Foliage, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Extended Bloom Time, Fall Color, For a Shady Spot, Formal Garden, Fragrant Flowers, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Rain Garden, Good for Rock Garden, Low Maintenance, Medium, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Thrillers, Tolerant of Loamy Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant, Winter Interest, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period Spring to Late Summer
Flower Color Pink, Red, Purple, White
Foliage Color Green, Blue-Green, Purple, Bronze
 

Rankings

Commonly Planted with...

Rhododendrons, azaleas, ferns, impatiens and hostas.

Photos of This with...

Lady's Mantle, Whitespire Gray Birch, White Dynasty Caladium, Cranesbill, Japanese pachysandra,
 

Astilbe Available Now

Maggie Daley Astilbe
(Astilbe 'Maggie Daley')
From $10.65

Fanal Astilbe
(Astilbe x arendsii 'Fanal')
From $10.65

Purple Candle Chinese Astilbe
(Astilbe chinensis 'Purpurkerze' PURPLE CANDLE)
From $10.65

Chinese Astilbe
(Astilbe chinensis var. pumila)
From $9.86

Vision in Red Astilbe
(Astilbe chinensis 'Vision in Red')
From $10.96

Visions Chinese Astilbe
(Astilbe chinensis 'Visions')
From $9.86

Deutschland Astilbe
(Astilbe japonica 'Deutschland')
From $10.65

Rheinland Astilbe
(Astilbe 'Rheinland')
From $9.37

Peach Blossom Astilbe
(Astilbe x rosea 'Peach Blossom')
From $13.68

Astilbe Delft Lace
(Astilbe 'Delft Lace')
From $11.24

Astilbe Bridal Veil
(Astilbe brautschleier 'Bridal Veil')
From $9.16

Astilbe Montgomery
(Astilbe japonica 'Montgomery')
From $10.12

Vision in Pink Chinese Astilbe
(Astilbe chinensis 'Vision in Pink')
From $10.96
Diamond Hybrid Astilbe
(Astilbe x arendsii 'Diamond')
From $13.68

Vision in White Astilbe
(Astilbe chinensis 'Vision in White')
From $12.13

Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe
(Astilbe 'Dark Side of the Moon')
From $17.78

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Limited Availability

We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!


Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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