Astilbe
JOY has a GOATSBEARD
Joy started this with Astilbe, the mystery that surprised me and has since ‘pestered’ me to put up a list. So here it is. But this isn’t the end of the story. This summer we will both be taking photos we seem to have forgotten to get.
Common names:
False Goatsbeard
False Spireae
Garden Spiraea
The one perennial I would choose if I could only have one.
The most deer resistant perennial I know
One of the best ‘foundation’ plants for a woodland/shade garden. The foliage stays nice throught the season, blooms last for a long time and then the dried flower spikes add winter interest to the garden
While they do not really thrive in deep shade they will survive but will lean to the light and the blooms will be sparse. A couple hours of morning sun suits then best. They will grow well in full sun but the soil must not be allowed to dry out for any extended amount of time. Leaves will dry out, turn brown and shrivel. They will come back with new growth if watered but wait too long and they go into ‘pernament dormancy’.
I admit I don’t have them all but I’m getting close . The list from my favorite perennial nursery the Plantage:
ASTILBE:
- chinensis ‘Finale’Clear Rose flowers. 20 inch tall. Blooms July – August
- c. pumilaLavender-pink flowers. Dense creeping mat 12 inch. Blooms July – August
- arendsii ‘Amethyst’Lavender flowers. 40 inch tall. blooms July
- biternata ‘Brautschleier’ (Bridal Veil)White flowers. 28 inch tall. Blooms in June
- grandis ‘Hennie Graafland’delicate pink flowers. 16 inch tall. Blooms June July
- japanese hybrid ‘Ellie’Feathery white blooms. Flowers fade to green instead of brown. Dark green glossy foliage. 24 inch tall. Blooms June
- j.x. ‘Peaches and Cream’Light Pink flowers turn creamy white as they mature. 24 inch tall. Blooms July – September
- simplicifolia ‘Darwins Snow Sprite’loosely formed white plumes. 12 inch tall. Early bloomer
- simplicifolia ‘Key West’Carmine-pink blooms with bronze fern-like foliage. 12 -16 inch tall. mid to late season bloom.
- simplicifolia ‘Sprite’Light pink flowers over dark lacy foliage. 15 inch tall. Blooms July – August
- taquetti ‘Superba’
Rose-purple flowers. 42 inch tall. Blooms July – August - x. arendsii “August Light’Scarlet Flowers. 2 – 3 feet tall. Blooms July – August
- arendsii ‘Anita Pheifer’Salmon-pint flowers. 24 – 30 inch tall. Blooms in late spring.
- arendsii ‘Gloria Rosea’Rose-pink flowers. 36 inch tall. Blooms July
- b. ‘Bressingham Beauty’Pink flowers. 36 inch tall. Blooms August
- chinensis ‘Diamond and Pearls’Pure white flowers with dark green foliage. 28 inch tall. Blooms July – August
- chinensis ‘Love and Pride’Purple-pink flowers. Young foliage is bright green with a hint of bronze. 28 inch tall. Blooms July – August
- chinensis ‘Vision’Rosy-purple flowers. 18 inch tall. Blooms July – August
- chinensis ‘Visions in Pink’Fagrant pint flowers. 18 – 24 inch tall. Midseason bloom
- chinensis ‘Visions in Red’Pink-Red flowers open from deep red buds. Bronze-green foliage. 18 inch tall. Midseason bloom.
- davidii ‘Fanal’Deep red flowers. 24 inch tall. Blooms June
- davidii ‘Deutschland’White flowers. 30 inch tall. Blooms June
- japonica ‘Bonn’Dark pink flowers. Sharply toothed glossy foliage. 18 – 24 inch tall. Early – midseason blooms.
- j.x. ‘Sister Theresa’Large Salmon-pink flowers. 24 inch tall. Early – midseason blooms.
- microphylla ‘Peach Blossom’Soft pink flower. 24 inch tall. Blooms June
- microphylla ‘Rheinland’Compact pink flowers. 24 inch tall. Blooms June
- s. ‘Pink Lightning’Fagrant soft pink flowers with dark green foliage. 18 inch tall. Blooms July – August
- thunbergii ‘Ostrich Plume’Drooping pink flowers. 30 inch tall. Blooms June – July
- I saved Joy’s favorite for last
http://gardenjoy4.blogspot.com/2008/03/ostrich-plume-astilbe.html
The variety of sizes, bloom times and foliage give plenty of opportunity to have interest most of the season. With a little care (mainly watering in full sun to keep the soil moist) Astilbes will adapt to almost any location. I don’t know how far south they’ll do well in but isn’t it at least worth a try growing some?
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March 14th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Now see ! … I poked you with a stick and you create a wonderful post on astilbe !!
You are awesome my friend ! .. now I am so frustrated I didn’t keep my plant tags a couple of years ago .. I can’t say which Chinensis I have .. and the others .. Japonica cultivars .. rats ! .. not knowing exactly what I have in my garden is going to drive me nuts.
BUT … this is not going to hinder my photographic diary come this season .. the challenge has been accepted .. the warp drive engaged .. let the mission take place ! … well… once the snow clears and we can get out there .. and our astilbe come back to life .. right ? .. no fudging photos from last year now ..
JOY .. *SMILE* !!
P.S. Your collection is wonderful !
I bow to the astilbe-man !
March 14th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I too have ‘lost/thrown away’ all my tags. Guess I’ll have to buy each Astile again so I can name each photo. Only problem is I can’t buy just one of each. I assimilate them 50 at a time
WHOOT!
March 14th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
You naughty boy ! .. are you trying to edge ahead of me by any chance ??? LOL
I got your number “Buster” .. game on !!! LOL
Joy .. now stop making me laugh ~..~
March 15th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Well, ya got me WiseAcre, never heard of this Astilbe but I doth think, I know something I should not do,that I will try one or two this year.
I want to experiment with this gardening business and these flowers look cool. Hummm, do they smell too?
March 16th, 2008 at 11:50 am
I was able to find .. ok .. break the seal .. on my storage box of plant tags and found one of the ones you didn’t list .. *SMILE* (smugly .. just a little ?)
“Gladstone” (astilbe japonica) nice white one .. rather a coincidence since you pictured my gazing ball in a bed of white astilbe .. hum ??? LOL
Joy
March 16th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Oh My GOD …………… are you kidding ? Send the site … I just wanta’ look .. really … just look … thats all .. have a gander at it … a little peek-a-boo .. not buying athing .. just lookin’
March 16th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Joy,
I was wrong they’re not $1.81 but rather $1.61 each when you buy 1000
Start here:
http://www.bloomingbulb.com/CartBulbs.asp?Category=32&bulbs=Astilbe%20&parent=3345
March 16th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
I love Goatsbeard … it actually survives here. Astilbe, which I used to grow in my Ottawa garden, is hard to keep alive here. I haven’t had much luck even though every year I try a few. I love them. Oh well, I’ll just have to come and look at the ones in your garden as well as Joy’s!
March 17th, 2008 at 9:43 am
I have to go look at that site when I have a minute or two ? LOL
Well . my god .. I had the best Monday laugh in a long time .. I just listened to that spam wave file .. Talk about seeing Monty Python in my little mind’s eye again .. that was too funny .. and I just got spamed this morning for real .. lord !!!!
LOL
Joy
March 17th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
The Plantage? Isn’t that here on Long Island? Are they strictly wholesale?
So far my favorite perennial wholesaler here on LI is Atlantic Nursery in Dix Hills but it’s always nice to know another, it’s not like I have near enough plants yet.
March 17th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
That garden full of Astilbe is gorgeous! I can see I need to buy more of it.
We had sunshine today but chilly temps. Our snow is mostly gone, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be back. Hope yours is melting by now.
March 22nd, 2008 at 7:29 am
I bought my first astilbe at a Chase Pitkin clearence sale, having only a vague idea what it would look like. The tiny little pot became a huge, beautiful clump of pink the next year so I bought some red. Last year they all looked pathetic. The first year there was lots of rain, last year was a bit dry so I’ll make certain to give them more water this year.