Astilbe Planting Guide
Lacey Ladies with Iron Constitutions
A quick glance at astilbes and you're likely to think "delicate", "dainty" and "fussy". No so. These gals are tough. Able to take shade, even the hard to manage combination of dry soil and shade, astilbe plants are dependable performers that earn their spot in your garden.
Spend a moment looking at your shade beds. Could they use a bit of perking up with easy care astilbes? The varieties found here are proven performers that'll deliver for years.
Outdoor Beds
- Find a location where the soil drains well. If there are still water puddles 5-6 hours after a hard rain, scout out another site. Or amend the soil with generous additions of peat moss, perlite and course sand to improve the drainage. Astilbes prefer soils that provide average to slightly below average moisture, and they will not thrive in water logged locations.
- Site your astilbes where they will receive light to moderate shade. These plants burn if located in full sun.
- Your astilbes will be shipped bareroot. This just means that the soil has been washed from the roots, so you won't risk introducing any soil-borne diseases into your garden, and the plant is lighter and cleaner to ship. Bareroot plants are easy to handle and settle in quickly. Tuck your astilbe plants with the roots fanned slightly and pointing downwards, and with the eyes or growing points about an inch below soil level. Space plants about a foot apart.
- After planting, water generously, soaking the soil and settle it around the roots. Root growth will begin almost immediately. Top sprouts will form within a few weeks as spring temperatures warm.
- Water periodically during the growing season if rain does not occur, but keep in mind that weekly deep waterings are better than lighter drinks every day or two.
- Feel free to clip blossoms to bring inside. This will not hurt the plants and will provide elegant, lacey stems to mix with other flowers in your bouquets.
- After blooming has finished for the season, feel free to clip off any spent flower stems. Your astilbes will continue to provide attractive foliage for the remainder of the growing season. As fall arrives and temperatures cool, leaves may yellow or wilt after the first frost. At this point you may trim off any leaves with the knowledge that next spring will bring fresh growth.
Pots, Tubs & Urns
- Astilbes typically perform better when planted in the ground rather than in containers. We recommend tucking these into beds and borders rather than selecting containers.