How To Grow Astilbes Planting And Caring For Astilbe Plants

All astilbes, even the more drought-tolerant varieties, prefer cool, moist soil rich in organic matter. Keep the soil evenly damp but not soggy, especially during the winter when plants are dormant. Avoid planting in heavy clay soils and sites with poor drainage.

How do you plant astilbes?

Place the plants so that the roots are fanned slightly and pointing downwards, with the crown planted 1 to 2 inches below the ground level. Cover the roots with soil and press firmly. Make sure to plant the divisions in consistently moist, humus-rich soil. Dry soil can be fatal to your plants.

Where does Astilbe grow best?

When & Where to Plant Astilbe

Light: Astible grows best in part shade. It can thrive in full sun, but will need shade in the afternoon in hot summer climates. In full shade, flowering will be reduced. Soil: Astilbe thrives in moist, well-drained soil that has a slightly acidic pH (6.0).

Do Astilbes spread?

Most astilbes spread easily, so divide your plants every 3 to 5 years to prevent overcrowding and to keep them vigorous and healthy.

Does astilbe need fertilizer?

Astilbe plants need phosphorus to bloom, so choose a fertilizer with the makeup of 5-10-5 or 10-10-10. Rake the fertilizer into the soil two weeks before you plant, or sprinkle a few granules onto the soil after the astilbe has been planted.

How many astilbe Can I plant together?

Like most perennials, astilbes look their best in groups of three or more plants of the same color.

Are astilbe poisonous to dogs?

Astilbe may be some of the taller plants in your perennial shade garden, as they grow to heights between 2 and 5 feet. ... This is one of the easier-to-grow shade perennials since it requires minimal care beyond basic watering. Both astilbe and yellow corydalis are non-toxic to dogs.

What can I plant next to astilbe?

There are quite a few plants that meet these astilbe companion planting qualifications. Rhododendrons, azaleas, and hostas all prefer shade and grow in a very wide range of hardiness zones. Coral bells are a relative of astilbe and have more or less identical planting requirements.

Does astilbe bloom all summer?

Astilbes bloom between late spring and late summer. They flower over a fairly long season since each flower plume consists of hundreds of densely packed tiny flowers, opening in succession.

How long do astilbe flowers last?

Astilbes shine when many other shade loving perennials are waning. They bloom for 2 to 3 weeks. Depending on the variety, astilbes flower from early to late summer. Early blooming varieties begin to flower in late May or June while late bloomers begin in late July or early August.

Will Astilbe grow under trees?

Even grass and supposed "shade plants" such as azaleas, astilbes and ferns have a hard time growing under trees. That's because this is dry shade - with big-root competition to boot.

Should astilbe be cut back in the fall?

Deadheading astilbe won't encourage new flowers, so you should leave them in place through the fall. Eventually, the flowers will dry on the stalks but should stay in place. When winterizing astilbe plants, you can cut all the foliage off, leaving just a 3-inch (7.5 cm) stem above ground.

How do you maintain Astilbe?

All astilbes, even the more drought-tolerant varieties, prefer cool, moist soil rich in organic matter. Keep the soil evenly damp but not soggy, especially during the winter when plants are dormant. Avoid planting in heavy clay soils and sites with poor drainage.

How do you keep astilbe blooming all summer?

The trick to extending astilbe plant bloom time is to install a variety of cultivars from each blooming period. Consider the varieties “Europa” (pale pink), “Avalanche” (white), or Fanal (deep red) if you want astilbe with late spring or early summer bloom time.

Why are my astilbe not blooming?

Soil and Moisture – Although astilbe prefers organic, well-drained, acidic soil, it's important that the plant is relatively moisture retentive. ... Fertilizer – Astilbe plants are heavy feeders and may not bloom without adequate nutrition; this is a common reason for an astilbe not flowering.

Why are my astilbe dying?

Astilbes begin to wilt, sometimes quickly, when they're exposed to too much sun. The hot summer sun can also heat up and dry out the soil. Another symptom of too much sun is leaf scorching; the edges of the leaves may appear burnt or begin to shrivel.

What to grow behind hydrangeas?

Plant groundcovers, bulbs or both under your hydrangeas. Purple Pixie® Loropetalum works well as a groundcover, and adds a nice pop of purple foliage, which will complement the both the leaves and blooms of the hydrangeas.

Why are my astilbe flowers turning brown?

The most common cause of browning astilbe is poor conditions. Astilbe thrive in moist conditions with soil that drains well and partial shade. ... Use mulch to keep water in the soil but avoid soggy soil. Even if your plants have been browned by drought, keep watering, as they may come back healthy next year.

Does astilbe multiply?

Astilbe are shade-tolerant plants with average moisture needs. They have fern-like foliage and colorful flowers ranging from pink to red or white. They grow up to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall and they can multiply quickly, so it is important to divide your astilbe regularly.

Is Creeping Jenny dog safe?

A nontoxic ground cover that grows well in part shade, creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) features petite, rounded leaves that turn golden with some sunlight, but will still be striking in shade.

Will Creeping Jenny kill other plants?

Less is more when it comes to Creeping Jenny. The plant is fast-growing and, in some cases invasive, making it harmful to native plants. A single plant can grow up to two feet wide, laying roots as its spreads, potentially damaging the roots of neighboring plants.