Astilbe. 'Irrlicht'

Astilbe. 'Straussenfeder'

© Thompson & Morgan

Form: An attractive dwarf mixture of tightly packed upright plumes, ranging from white to cream, through pink shades to red. Very compact, bushy plants, perfect for containers or the front of borders.
Hardy: 
US Zones: 4 5 6 7 8
Height: 18in (45cm)
Spread: 
Foliage: Broad leaves divided into toothed, narrowly oval leaflets 
Flowers: In summer 

Sowing Instructions: Sowing Time: February to June or September to October. Sow seed on the surface of lightly firmed, moist seed compost in pots or trays. Do not cover the seed. Keep at a temperature of between 59-68^oF (15-20^oC). After sowing, do not exclude light as this helps germination. Keep the surface of the compost moist but not waterlogged; germination can take 1-3 months.

Growing Instructions: When large enough to handle, transplant seedlings into 3in (7.5cm) pots or trays. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10-15 days before planting out after all risk of frost, 12in (23-30cm) apart or plant into containers for effect. For best results, provide any ordinary, well-drained soil in full sun.

Form: Leafy, clump-forming, perennial
Hardy:
Height: 36in (1m)
Spread: 36in (1m)
Foliage: Broad leaves, divided into toothed, oval, leaflets.
Flowers: In summer producing feathery, tapering panicles of small, star-shaped, rich pink flowers, held on strong stems

Form: Leafy, clump-forming, perennial
Hardy:
Height: 12in (30cm)
Spread: 8in (20cm)
Foliage: The lower 2/3^rds of the flowers stems bear deeply dissected, coarse, hairy, deep green leaves
Flowers: In summer producing dense, fluffy, spikes of tiny deep raspberry-red, star-shaped flowers.
Situation: Prefers a peaty soil in a shaded, moist location. 

Astilbe. arendsii
'Fanal'

Form: A leafy, clump-forming, perennial
Hardy:
Height: 24in (60cm)
Spread: 36in (1m)
Foliage: Broad mid-green leaves are divided into leaflets 
Flowers: In summer producing neat tapering spires of tiny crimson-red flowers held above the leaf mound on strong stems.
Situation: Prefers a richly organic soil in a shaded, moist location. 

Syn: Astilbe. simplicifolia
Form: A leafy, clump-forming, perennial
Hardy:
Height: 6in (15cm)
Spread: 4in (10cm)
Foliage: Having oval, deeply divided, basal rosettes of reddish-green leaves.
Flowers: In summer producing arching, slender, stems carrying dense racemes of tiny, star-shaped, pink flowers.
Situation: Prefers a peaty soil in a shaded, moist location. 

Form: A clump-forming leafy, perennial.
Hardy:
Height: 2ft (60cm) 
Spread: 3ft (1m)
Foliage: Rich green, bronze-flushed, broad leaves divided, into oval, toothed leaflets.  
Flowers: In summer producing trusses of tiny, star-shaped deep-red flowers.

Astilbe. arendsii
'Irrlicht'

Form: A leafy, clump-forming, perennial
Hardy:
Height: 1.5-2ft (45-60cm)
Spread: 3ft (1m)
Foliage: Dark green leaves divided into leaflets 
Flowers: In summer bearing feathery plumes of tiny, white flowers.
Situation: Prefers a humus-rich soil in a semi-shaded, moist location. 

Form: A leafy, clump-forming, perennial
Hardy:
Height: 2.5ft (75cm)
Spread: 3ft (1m)
Foliage: Dark green leaves divided into leaflets  
Flowers: In summer producing plumes of tiny, star-shaped, deep salmon, flowers.
Situation: Prefers a humus-rich soil in a semi-shaded, moist location. 

Syn: Astilbe. x crispa 'Perkeo'
Form: A leafy, clump-forming, perennial
Hardy:
Height: 6-8in (15-20cm)
Spread: 8in (20cm)
Foliage: Having deeply cut, crinkled leaves. 
Flowers: From mid- to late summer producing small plumes of tiny salmon-pink flowers
Situation: Prefers a humus-rich soil in a semi-shaded, moist location. 

Form: Dwarf, clump-forming, leafy, perennial 
Hardy:
Height: 20in (50cm)
Spread: 3ft (1m)
Foliage: Broad leaves divided into toothed, narrowly oval leaflets 
Flowers: In summer producing feathery, tapering panicles of tiny, shell-pink, star-shaped flowers held above the leaves.

Syn: Astilbe 'Ostrich Plume'
Form: A leafy, clump-forming, perennial
Hardy:
Height: 3ft (1m)
Spread: 3ft (1m)
Foliage: Broad leaves divided into toothed, narrowly oval leaflets  
Flowers: In summer, producing arching stems carrying feathery, tapering plumes of tiny, coral-pink flowers.
Situation: Prefers a humus-rich soil in a semi-shaded, moist location. 

Form: A leafy, clump-forming, perennial
Hardy:
Height: 3ft (1m)
Spread: 3ft (1m)
Foliage: Broad leaves divided into toothed, narrowly oval leaflets 
Flowers: In summer producing open plumes of tiny, pale-pink, flowers
Situation: Prefers a humus-rich soil in a semi-shaded, moist location. 

© Thompson & Morgan

Form: Hardy Herbaceous Perennials in a mixture of the best garden varieties, including carmine, pink, silver pink, lilac, purple and white.
Hardy:
US Zones: 5 6 7 8
Height: 36in (1m)
Spread: 
Foliage:  
Flowers: In summer
Position: Sun or Partial Shade

Sowing Instructions: Sow on the surface of the compost from late summer in a peat based seed compost. Make sure that the compost is moist but not wet and seal in a polythene bag until after germination which usually takes 40-80 days at 65^oF (18^oC). Do not exclude light which is beneficial to germination.

Growing Instructions: Transplant when large enough to handle into 3in (8cm) pots. Later plant out 12-18in (30-40cm) apart into a soil which doesn't dry out in the summer and in sun or shade.

Cultivation: -

Grow in moist soil enriched with plenty of well-rotted organic material, in full sun or partial shade.

NB. Astilbes resent soils that dry our during the summer.

Propagation: -

Divide plants every three to four years in late winter or early spring to maintain vigour;

Sow seed in late summer in a peat based compost, ensuring that it is moist but not wet.
NB. Seed does not come true from named varieties.

Fully Hardy

Pests & Diseases: -

Mildew can be a problem for plants especially on sites that dry out during the summer.