Comments on: Soft Astilbe Plumes

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 01:42:16 +0000

One new one that I tried this summer is Astilbe ‘Younique White’. The flowers were long lasting and they were especially thick, but being new it had a head start in a grower’s greenhouse under ideal conditions. Next summer I’ll see how it does naturally in the shade under the trees.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 00:11:32 +0000

I have “Visions in Red” and “Ellie”.

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:38:28 +0000

Hi # 8, do your astilbe have enough moisture, or are the leaves browning? The hotter and dryer your climate, the more shade they would appreciate. I find they bloom even in fairly deep shade for me, but maybe not as many flowers as in part shade. They like a little additional organic matter to enrich the soil, but they should still bloom.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 20:32:28 +0000

why don’t my astilbe blossom?

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:39:03 +0000

Kerri, it’s handy that there are early, medium and late flowering versions to spread the bloom time out. I will have to double check your pink Ostrich Plume, a very apt name for an extravagant flower.

We have been having wonderful days, with just the right temperature for gardening.

By: kerri

kerri — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:12:19 +0000

Astilbe is such a wonderful shade plant, and I wouldn’t be without those lovely soft, feathery plumes. They do look especially good with a green foliage backdrop, and pair very nicely with hostas. My white blooms have faded already, but the pink is still going.
Joy and I recently discovered that we both have the pink Ostrich Plume. In fact she named it for me when I posted a picture. My Astilbe have been in the garden for a long time…since before I kept track of the names of things I planted.
We’re having yet another rainy day here. I wonder if you are too. However, the weatherman is promising warmth and sunshine for tomorrow, so I have that to look forward to :)

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:54:49 +0000

Joy, there is a great selection in astilbe colours. Like you, I enjoy the faded blooms, especially later on when everything has quieted down. The faded flowers look good in the fall garden, and add interest after that as plants get covered up.

Donna, if your summer is hot and dry, the astilbe would probably appreciate a shady location even more, as well as some mulch to conserve the moisture.

By: MNGarden

MNGarden — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:45:02 +0000

I added astilbe to my garden once but was not successful at getting them established but I am going to try again because they are so beautiful.
Donna

By: Joy

Joy — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:17:28 +0000

NS : ) This is a beauty ! .. I do have a weakness for Astilbe ..
“Peach” was a favorite of mine .. reds such as in “Montgomery” were earlier in my getting to know them .. then white such as what you have show cased .. especially in the medium shade where it really glows : ) .. I leave the flower heads on because even as they lose their colour there is a certain attraction to them along with the foliage .. they are wonderful all purpose shade plants : )
Any spelling errors I will blame on my husbands computer and the early morning commenting ? wink wink
Joy

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:40:41 +0000

Lona, astilbes do animate the shade garden, and make such a good contrast next to plants with large or solid leaves.