Astilbe

Astilbe

Common name: Astilbe, False Spirea

Family: Saxifragaceae, Saxifrage

Height x width: 6-48" x 8-24" varying with species

Growth habit: upright clumps

Growth rate: moderate

Foliage: 2-3 ternately compound; leaflets ovate-oblong and doubly serrate; dark green to reddish green; size varies with species

Flowers: small in dense panicles 6-12" long, usually held above leaves, erect or arching; various colors of red, pink, lavender or white; mid summer north, early summer south, some species later

Hardiness: listed 4-8, although most cultivars survive to zone 3

Soil: moist is crucial, see problems below; ‘Federsee’ and koreana tolerate drier conditions; chinensis ‘Pumila’ tolerates heavier clay soils

Light: part shade to sun in north if adequate moisture, part shade in south

Pests and Problems: inadequate soil moisture causes leaves to turn brown, first on margins, then die; occasionally powdery mildew; occasionally black vine weevil or Japanese beetles

Landscape habit, uses: shade and woodland gardens, near water features, cut flowers (harvest when flowers are half open); seedheads provide winter interest

Other interest: from the Greek words for without (a-) amd brillance (stilbo) referring to the flowers’ lack of brillance; species generally native to Japan, and other Asian countries

Other culture: may need dividing every 3-4 years

Propagation: division or woody crowns in early spring; seeds receiving 4 weeks of cool after sowing, not for cultivars; tissue culture of white or pink cultivars, red ones mutate

Species:

x arendsii (ah-rend’ see-ii)-- various colors in loose panicles, 24-48" tall, leaves sometimes maroon; over 70 cultivars, bred early in 20th century by nurseryman Georg Arends of Ronsdorf, Germany, with most popular cultivars in commerce from this group. One of first of these which is still found today is ‘Peach Blossom’. ‘Fanal’ in 1933 was the first bronze foliage, red flowered cultivar.
biternata (bii-ter-naa’ tah)-- variously white spike-like racemes, 36" tall or occasionally taller
chinensis (chii-nen’ siss)-- white to variously pink flowers in panicles on short, wooly stems; generally 8-15" tall; var. tacquetii is 3-4’ tall, purple blooms to late summer north, mid summer south, and has several cultivars.
x crispa (kris’ pah)-- cream or generally pink, 6-12" tall, leaves occasionally bronze in early spring or fall
x hybrida (hii’ bri-dah)-- white to pink or purple, 20-60" tall, over 20 cultivars
japonica (ja-pon’ i-kah)-- species white but cultivars white to purple in erect panicles, 24-36" tall, some cultivars with dark foliage
x rosea (row’ see-ah)-- similar to japonica only with pink flowers, 24-36" tall, hybrid of chinensis x japonica, must have moist soil
simplicifolia (sim-pli-ci-fol’ ee-ah)-- species white with cultivars pink or white in narrow panicles, 12-18" tall, leaves lobed or sharply dissected, many hybrids
tacquetii (ta-ket’ tea)--now correctly listed as variety of chinensis, with several cultivars
thunbergii (thun-ber’ gee-ii)-- species white with cultivars pink or white in generally densely branched pyramidal panicles, 12-18" tall, olive-green leaves irregularly pinnate to bipinnate

Cultivars: those marked * are most commonly seen in U.S. commerce and gardens; most are hybrids of various cultivars, and may be seen listed under species, especially x arendsii and x hybrida. Those primarily bred or selected from a particular species are so listed. Although the German names are usually the correct ones, the English equivalents have been used here as being more often recognized.

Cultivar flowers height, in. other

var. alba white 18-24 simplicifolia

‘America’ lilac rose 28 open panicles

‘Amethyst’ lilac pink 30-36

‘Anita Pfeifer’ bright rose 24-30 from Arends, 1930

‘Aphrodite’ salmon red 18 simplicifolia

‘Atro-rosea’ rose salmon 18 simplicifolia

‘Avalanche’ white 24 arching panicles

‘Bergkristall’ white 36

‘Betsy Cuperus’ blush pink 36 from 1917, long sprays

‘Brautschlier’:’Bridal Veil’

‘Bressingham Beauty’ clear pink 42 arching sprays

‘Bridal Veil’ (‘Brautschlier’) white-pink 30

‘Bronce Elegans’:’Bronze Elegance’

‘Bronze Elegance’(‘Bronce Elegans’) rose pink 18 simplicifolia, bronze foliage

‘Bronze Laub’ pinkish white 28 dark foliage

‘Bumalda’ rosy white 24

‘Carnea’ deep salmon 18 simplicifolia, late bloom

‘Catherine Deneuve’ rose pink 24-30

*’Cattleya’ orchid pink 36

‘Darwin’s Snow Sprite’ white 12 late bloom

var. davidii purple pink 48-72 chinensis, tolerates dry soil

*’Deutschland’ white 24 dense spikes

‘Diamond’ (‘Diamont’) white 24-36

‘Diamont’:’Diamond’

‘Drayton Glory’ pale pink 28

‘Dunkellachs’ salmon 24 simplicifolia, bronze foliage

‘Elisabeth’ raspberry 28

‘Elizabeth Bloom’ pink 30 dark green foliage

‘Ellie’ white 30 large flowers

*’Erica’ clear pink 36 open panicles, large

*’Etna’ dark red 24 dark green foliage

‘Europa’ pale pink 24 early

*’Fanal’ blood red 24 maroon leaves, from 1933

*’Federsee’ carmine rose 24 tolerates dry soil

‘Feuer’:’Fire’

‘Finale’ light pink 18 chinensis

‘Fire’ (‘Feuer’) fiery red 30

‘Fleur’ rose red 30

‘Gertrude Brix’ carmine red 24

‘Gladstone’ (‘W.E. Gladstone’) creamy white 24-30 japonica hybrid

*‘Gloria’ rosy lavender 30 mid-summer

‘Glow’ (‘Glut’) deep red 12-18

‘Glut’:’Glow’

‘Gnome’ pink 6 x crispa, arching, reddish foliage

‘Granat’ carmine red 24

‘Grete Pungel’ pink 36 from Arends in 1924

‘Helsingborg’ red 28 late bloom

‘Hennie Graafland’ rose 18 simplicifolia, long bloom

*‘Hyacinth’ (‘Hyazinth’) lilac pink 36

‘Hyazinth’:’Hyacinth’

‘Inshriach Pink’ pink 12 simplicifolia, foliage bronze

‘Intermezzo’ salmon pink 24-30 chinensis

‘Irene’ light pink 24

‘Irrlicht’ rosy white 24-30 dark green foliage

‘Jacqueline’ light pink 28 excellent foliage

‘Jo Ophorst’ magenta 36 late bloom

‘Koblenz’ salmon pink 24 japonica, bronzed foliage

‘Korean Splendor’ rose purple 48 very late bloom

koreana white 28 large floret petals

‘Kvele’:’Kwele’

‘Kwell’ (‘Kvele’) lilac rose 32

‘Lilli Goos’ pink to red 30 late bloom, from 1930

‘Lilliput’ rose pink 6-12 x crispa

‘Mainz’ lavender pink 24 dark green foliage

‘Mars’ violet 24 early bloom

‘Mont Blanc’ white 28

‘Montgomery’ scarlet red 24-30

‘Mowe’ light rose 24

‘Obergartner Jurgens’ rosy red 24 from japonica, from 1954

‘Ostrich Plume’ (‘Strassenfeder’) bright pink 36 arching panicles, thunbergii

‘Paradise Pink’ lavender pink 28

*‘Peach Blossom’ salmon pink 30 x rosea, fragrant

‘Peaches and Cream’ light pink 36 from Beth Chatto

‘Perkeo’ dark pink 6-12 x crispa

‘Pink’ purplish pink 36 chinensis var. tacquetii

‘Praecox’ light pink 16 late bloom

‘Professor van der Wielen’ white 36 loose spikes

*‘Pumila’ (var. pumila) light purple 12-24 dense spikes, chinensis

‘Purple Candles’ purple red 36 chinensis var. tacquetii

‘Purple Glory’ purple 24 dense spikes, chinensis

‘Purple Lance’ (‘Purpurlanze’) purple red 36-48 chinensis var. tacquetii, narrow

‘Purpurlanze’:’Purple Lance’

‘Queen Alexandra’ deep pink 30 x rosea

‘Queen of Holland’ white, pinkish 30 bronze foliage

‘Red Charm’ red 36 arching panicles

‘Red Light’ (‘Rotlicht’) deep red 28 dark green foliage

*‘Red Sentinel’ red 36 early bloom

*‘Rheinland’ clear pink 24

‘Rose Veil’:’Rosenschleier’

‘Rosenschleier’ (‘Rose Veil’) light pink 36

‘Rotlicht’:’Red Light’

‘Saxatilis’: glaberrima saxatilis purple 3-6 bronze foliage

‘Schemen’ lavender pink 24

‘Serenade’ rosy pink 18 late bloom, chinensis

‘Sheila Haxton’ deep pink 24

‘Snowdrift’ white 30 sport of ‘Irrlicht’

‘Spartan’ dark red 24-36 dark green foliage

‘Spatsummer’ bright rose 24 very late bloom, chinensis

‘Spinell’ salmon red 36

*‘Sprite’ light pink 12-18 simplicifolia, bronze foliage

‘Strassenfeder’:’Ostrich Plume’

*‘Superba’ light purple 40 chinensis var. tacquetii

‘Venus’ bright pink 36 feathery panicles

‘Veronica Klose’ purple rose 24 chinensis

‘Vesuvius’ bright salmon 24 early bloom

‘Visions’ pink purple 18 bronze green foliage, chinensis

‘Washington’ white 24-30 glossy leaves

‘Weisse Gloria’:’White Gloria’

*‘White Gloria’ (‘Weisse Gloria’) white 24 early, dense panicles

*‘William Buchanan’ pale pink 6-10 simplicifolia, dense curly foliage

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Cultivar	flowers	height, in.	other
var. alba	white	18-24	simplicifolia
‘America’	lilac rose	28	open panicles
‘Amethyst’	lilac pink	30-36
‘Anita Pfeifer’	bright rose	24-30	from Arends, 1930
‘Aphrodite’	salmon red	18	simplicifolia
‘Atro-rosea’	rose salmon	18	simplicifolia
‘Avalanche’	white	24	arching panicles
‘Bergkristall’	white	36
‘Betsy Cuperus’	blush pink	36	from 1917, long sprays
‘Brautschlier’:’Bridal Veil’
‘Bressingham Beauty’	clear pink	42	arching sprays
‘Bridal Veil’ (‘Brautschlier’)	white-pink	30
‘Bronce Elegans’:’Bronze Elegance’
‘Bronze Elegance’(‘Bronce Elegans’)	rose pink	18	simplicifolia, bronze foliage
‘Bronze Laub’	pinkish white	28	dark foliage
‘Bumalda’	rosy white	24
‘Carnea’	deep salmon	18	simplicifolia, late bloom
‘Catherine Deneuve’	rose pink	24-30
*’Cattleya’	orchid pink	36
‘Darwin’s Snow Sprite’	white	12	late bloom
var. davidii	purple pink	48-72	chinensis, tolerates dry soil
*’Deutschland’	white	24	dense spikes
‘Diamond’ (‘Diamont’)	white	24-36
‘Diamont’:’Diamond’
‘Drayton Glory’	pale pink	28
‘Dunkellachs’	salmon	24	simplicifolia, bronze foliage
‘Elisabeth’	raspberry	28
‘Elizabeth Bloom’	pink	30	dark green foliage
‘Ellie’	white	30	large flowers
*’Erica’	clear pink	36	open panicles, large
*’Etna’	dark red	24	dark green foliage
‘Europa’	pale pink	24	early
*’Fanal’	blood red	24	maroon leaves, from 1933
*’Federsee’	carmine rose	24	tolerates dry soil
‘Feuer’:’Fire’
‘Finale’	light pink	18	chinensis
‘Fire’ (‘Feuer’)	fiery red	30
‘Fleur’	rose red	30
‘Gertrude Brix’	carmine red	24
‘Gladstone’ (‘W.E. Gladstone’)	creamy white	24-30	japonica hybrid
*‘Gloria’	rosy lavender	30	mid-summer
‘Glow’ (‘Glut’)	deep red	12-18
‘Glut’:’Glow’
‘Gnome’	pink	6	x crispa, arching, reddish foliage
‘Granat’	carmine red	24
‘Grete Pungel’	pink	36	from Arends in 1924
‘Helsingborg’	red	28	late bloom
‘Hennie Graafland’	rose	18	simplicifolia, long bloom
*‘Hyacinth’ (‘Hyazinth’)	lilac pink	36
‘Hyazinth’:’Hyacinth’
‘Inshriach Pink’	pink	12	simplicifolia, foliage bronze
‘Intermezzo’	salmon pink	24-30	chinensis
‘Irene’	light pink	24
‘Irrlicht’	rosy white	24-30	dark green foliage
‘Jacqueline’	light pink	28	excellent foliage
‘Jo Ophorst’	magenta	36	late bloom
‘Koblenz’	salmon pink	24	japonica, bronzed foliage
‘Korean Splendor’	rose purple	48	very late bloom
koreana	white	28	large floret petals
‘Kvele’:’Kwele’
‘Kwell’ (‘Kvele’)	lilac rose	32
‘Lilli Goos’	pink to red	30	late bloom, from 1930
‘Lilliput’	rose pink	6-12	x crispa
‘Mainz’	lavender pink	24	dark green foliage
‘Mars’	violet	24	early bloom
‘Mont Blanc’	white	28
‘Montgomery’	scarlet red	24-30
‘Mowe’	light rose	24
‘Obergartner Jurgens’	rosy red	24	from japonica, from 1954
‘Ostrich Plume’ (‘Strassenfeder’)	bright pink	36	arching panicles, thunbergii
‘Paradise Pink’	lavender pink	28
*‘Peach Blossom’	salmon pink	30	x rosea, fragrant
‘Peaches and Cream’	light pink	36	from Beth Chatto
‘Perkeo’	dark pink	6-12	x crispa
‘Pink’	purplish pink	36	chinensis var. tacquetii
‘Praecox’	light pink	16	late bloom
‘Professor van der Wielen’	white	36	loose spikes
‘Pumila’ (var. pumila)*	light purple	12-24	dense spikes, chinensis
‘Purple Candles’	purple red	36	chinensis var. tacquetii
‘Purple Glory’	purple	24	dense spikes, chinensis
‘Purple Lance’ (‘Purpurlanze’)	purple red	36-48	chinensis var. tacquetii, narrow
‘Purpurlanze’:’Purple Lance’
‘Queen Alexandra’	deep pink	30	x rosea
‘Queen of Holland’	white, pinkish	30	bronze foliage
‘Red Charm’	red	36	arching panicles
‘Red Light’ (‘Rotlicht’)	deep red	28	dark green foliage
*‘Red Sentinel’	red	36	early bloom
*‘Rheinland’	clear pink	24
‘Rose Veil’:’Rosenschleier’
‘Rosenschleier’ (‘Rose Veil’)	light pink	36
‘Rotlicht’:’Red Light’
‘Saxatilis’: glaberrima saxatilis	purple	3-6	bronze foliage
‘Schemen’	lavender pink	24
‘Serenade’	rosy pink	18	late bloom, chinensis
‘Sheila Haxton’	deep pink	24
‘Snowdrift’	white	30	sport of ‘Irrlicht’
‘Spartan’	dark red	24-36	dark green foliage
‘Spatsummer’	bright rose	24	very late bloom, chinensis
‘Spinell’	salmon red	36
*‘Sprite’	light pink	12-18	simplicifolia, bronze foliage
‘Strassenfeder’:’Ostrich Plume’
*‘Superba’	light purple	40	chinensis var. tacquetii
‘Venus’	bright pink	36	feathery panicles
‘Veronica Klose’	purple rose	24	chinensis
‘Vesuvius’	bright salmon	24	early bloom
‘Visions’	pink purple	18	bronze green foliage, chinensis
‘Washington’	white	24-30	glossy leaves
‘Weisse Gloria’:’White Gloria’
*‘White Gloria’ (‘Weisse Gloria’)	white	24	early, dense panicles
*‘William Buchanan’	pale pink	6-10	simplicifolia, dense curly foliage