Astilbe

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Astilbe arendsii1.jpg


Plant Characteristics
Habit   herbaceous

Lifespan: ⌛ perennial
Cultivation
Scientific Names

Saxifragaceae >

Astilbe >


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Astilbe (pronounced /əˈstɪlbiː/)[1] is a genus of 18 species perennial, herbaceous flowering plants, within the family Saxifragaceae. Some species are commonly known as False Goat's Beard, and False Spirea. Astilbe species are native to Asia and North America.

These hardy, herbaceous perennials are cultivated by gardeners for their large handsome, often fern-like foliage, and dense, feathery plumes of flowers. Astilbes are widely recognized for their profuse blooms in full shade. They require a peaty soil for their successful cultivation. Numerous hybrids have been raised. Astilbe is a tall feathery flowered plant popular as a pond side feature.


Read about Astilbe in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Astilbe (Greek, meaning not shining). Saxifragaceae. Includes Hoteia. Ornamental perennial herbs grown chiefly for their showy panicles of white or pink flowers.

Leaves ternately 2-3-pinnate: fls. perfect or dioecious; calyx 5-, rarely 4-lobed; petals as many, rarely wanting; stamens 10 or 8, rarely 5; pistils 2 or 3, distinct or partly connate: fr. 2 or 3 dehiscent follicles with many minute seeds.—About 14 species in Cent, and E. Asia, Java and E. N. Amer. They look much like Aruncus (which see), and are often called Spiraea. Aruncus and Spiraea are rosaceous genera, and are characterized by many stamens and usually by several to many separate pistils, whereas Astilbe has 10, 8 or 5 stamens (twice the number, or of the same number, as the petals), and a 2-3-lobed pistil (which finally separates into more or less distinct follicles).

Astilbe and Aruncus are so much alike that they are often confounded by horticulturists. The astilbes are perennial herbs, mostly rather tall with handsome compound bright green foliage and small white, pink or almost purple flowers in slender or dense spikes forming large terminal feathery panicles.

They are hardy plants of great merit. They are easily grown in any well-made border and like rich good soil and plenty of water during the growing period. They give conspicuous masses of bloom in summer.

Propagation is mostly by division; also by seeds sown early in spring in the greenhouse; they germinate after two or three weeks; the young seedlings must be pricked off several times and later planted out in frames or in the open ground. The young plants will flower the second year.

Forcing of astilbe.—Few herbaceous plants force with greater ease than Astilbe japonica, and its var. compacta; but three weeks longer time should be given the latter fully to develop its feathery spikes. Astilbes are so easily and cheaply imported that for the commercial florist it is cheaper to buy than to divide and grow his own plants. When first received, the clumps of roots should be stored, with a little earth or moss between the roots and a little soil over the crown, until the florist is ready to pot them. No amount of freezing does them the slightest harm; but the boxes or flats in which they are stored are best covered with a little straw or litter, and should have the full benefit of rain or snow to keep the roots from drying. From potting or bringing into the greenhouse, it requires from ten to fourteen weeks to bring them into flower, according to the earliness of the season at which they are wanted in flower. The quality of soil is of no consequence, provided it is light and easily handled. They need water in great abundance.

Temperature is also of little consequence. Anything above 50° at night will do; but it is best not to flower them in a higher temperature than 60°, or they will quickly wilt when cut or used for decorations. From the time the sprays begin to show white color until they are fully developed, every astilbe should stand in a saucer in which there should be constantly an inch of liquid manure. When sold for window plants or for decoration, astilbes are often disappointing. It is merely want of water. Before the full development of the shoots and leaves, they are easily hurt by tobacco smoke, and should be covered with paper or well wetted when fumigation is necessary. Aphis, spider or thrips never trouble astilbe. As a border plant, astilbe is one of the best of our hardy herbaceous plants; but the feathery plume obtained in the greenhouse is much shorter, more compact, and lacks the pure whiteness of the outdoor-grown specimens. (Wm. Scott.)

A. crenatilobata. Small (A. decandra crenatilobata, Brit.). Allied to A. decandra. Lfts. crenately toothed, the terminal one usually 3-Iobed. N. C.—A. simplicifolia, Makino. Low, not exceeding 1 ft.: lvs. simple, ovate, deeply lobed or incised, about 3 in. long: panicle slender and narrow, the branches short, with star-like white as. Japan. G.C. III. 48:294; 52:101.—A. virescens, Hutchins. Allied to A. rivularis. Lfts. obliquely cordate-ovate. 3-4 in. long, denticulate: panicles much branched with small greenish white fragrant fls. : petals wanting; stamens 10. China.


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


Cultivation

Astilbe hybrids calendar?
January:
February: sow
March: divide
April: transplant
May: flowering
June: flowering
July: flowering
August: flowering
September: flowering
October:
November: divide
December:
Notes:


Propagation

Pests and diseases

Species

Recommended varieties:

  • Astilbe x arendsii "Brautschleier"
  • Astilbe x arendsii "Bronce Elegans"
  • Astilbe x arendsii "Fanal"
  • Astilbe x arendsii "Irrlicht"
  • Astilbe x arendsii "Snowdrift"
  • Astilbe x crispa "Perkeo"
  • Astilbe x crispa "Rheinland"
  • Astilbe x simplicifolia "Sprite"

Species of Astilbe include:

Cultivar Groups

Commonly accepted cultivar groups are:

Gallery

References

External links


  1. ↑ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
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