Comments on: Soft Pink Astilbe ‘Europa’

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:27:50 +0000

Marianne, usually the Astilbe only bloom brightly for a couple of weeks, and then they start to fade to brown. I leave the faded flowers on, as they look decorative over the fall.

They also don’t like to dry out, though. If it’s hot, they appreciate part shade, especially afternoon shade. Putting some mulch around them can help them conserve moisture, too. If the leaves start to get crispy on the edges they need more water.

By: Marianne

Marianne — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:43:44 +0000

Hello fellow gardeners,
I have a beautiful white and pink astilbe that a week ago were lovely. I am not sure why but they now have no colour. They are both exposed to the sunshine and I am wondering if this is the cause of the colour leaving them. I live in Eastern Ontario Canada and I lately our temps have been in th high 80′s to mid nineties. Does anyone know if there is anything I can do to bring back the colour? I would really appreciate any info on this as I would love to have them in colour again. Thanks all and happy gardening!!!

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:32:36 +0000

Linda, I don’t think they do well in extreme heat, but I don’t have personal experience with them outside of a cold climate.

By: Linda

Linda — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:56:19 +0000

I love the color of your Astilbe–pretty, pretty pink. Do Astilbe’s tolerate hot weather like mine? I have lots of shade, but thought it might be way too hot for them.

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:10:04 +0000

Gail, bright sun with little rain would indeed make astilbe crispy. I’m fortunate here, that July is usually our wettest month. I don’t water the lawn, and for the past month, I’ve just had to water this year’s transplants in the garden.

Catherine Kenny, The Fanal sounds good.
I would love to plant astilbe under Dicksonia antartica. I have to plant Matteuccia struthiopteris and squint my eyes to pretend it’s a tree fern. Right now that’s even harder. Since I transplanted 2 of the ferns, one is leaning at a precarious angle and both are browning back from the tips.
I don’t have any Astrantia, but I think it is hardy here.

By: Catherine Kenny

Catherine Kenny — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:02:45 +0000

Hi there. Like you, I love Astilbe. My favourite in the garden is Astilbe x arendsii Fanal, which has dense, short erect spikes of deep crimson red. It seems to light up a shady corner and looks stunning under my Dicksonia antartica.

I love your blog. You garden in conditions so different from mine (I’m in southern England) that I’m completely hooked! By the way, have you ever tried Astrantia? They do well in shade, but might need protection in your winters.

By: Gail

Gail — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:05:14 +0000

You are right, that is a soft beautiful pink. Sigh, Not here though, there’s that needing water! So I will enjoy their feathering plumes and lovely color from here;)

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:56:40 +0000

Amy, shade seems to help lower its water needs, but a little rain water spillover would probably keep the leaves from crisping too.

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:35:03 +0000

I love astilbe. I usually focus on drought tolerant plants, but I wonder…if I planted this on the shady side of my house right by the rain barrels I could probably pull it off. Hmmm….

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:14:42 +0000

Krys, does your white astilbe overwinter okay in the planter? I have a tall white astilbe that I like, ‘Diamont’.