Astilbe (False Spiraea, Meadow Sweet)
Astilbe species. SAXIFRAGACEAE.
Planting and Growing Astilbe
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow astilbe in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of astilbe
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for astilbe
- Season of bloom and planting time for astilbe
- When, how deep, and where to plant astilbe
- How to plant astilbe
- Watering, fertilizing, care and pests or diseases of astilbe
- Landscape and container uses of astilbe
- Comments about astilbe and its features
Growing Astilbe
About 14 species of prostrate, mounding, deciduous perennial herbs, 8–36 in. (20–90 cm) tall, 1–2 ft. (30–60 cm) wide. Shiny, copper, pink becoming deep green, neatly formed, feathery, fernlike, finely divided, toothed leaves, to 3 in. (75 mm) long.
Most plants available from garden stores are Astilbe X arendsii hybrids.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
![023-flower Flower on plant logo glyph Copyright ©2020 Used under grant of license from license holder. All rights reserved by licensor.](https://i0.wp.com/grownbyyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/023-flower.jpg?fit=64%2C64&ssl=1)
Many tiny, pink, deep red, white, tiny flowers form dramatic, fluffy plumes on narrow, stiff stalks to 1 ft. (30 cm) tall, above plant foliage, in summer.
Best Climates
![3-Conditions_006-cloud Glyph icon sun and clouds](https://i0.wp.com/grownbyyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/3-Conditions_006-cloud.jpg?fit=64%2C64&ssl=1)
Semi-hardy. Zones 4–10. Best in zones 7–10.
Soil Type and Fertility
![4-Soil_002-soil Glyph icon plants and soil profile. Copyright © 2019, 2020 Dolezal & Associates. Used by grant of license from copyright holder. All Rights Reserved by licensor.](https://i0.wp.com/grownbyyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/4-Soil_002-soil.jpg?fit=64%2C64&ssl=1)
Moist, well-drained, sandy humus or, in water features, shoreline sites. Fertility: Rich– average. 5.5–7.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
![010S1-H1_Plant_Shrub Glyph icon planting shrub in garden landscape. Copyright © 2019, 2020 Dolezal & Associates. Used by grant of license from copyright holder. All Rights Reserved by licensor.](https://i0.wp.com/grownbyyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/010S1-H1_Plant_Shrub.png?fit=64%2C64&ssl=1)
Spring in full sun to full shade, 1–2 ft. (30–60 cm) apart.
Proper Care
![011T2-H1_Care_Tree-2 Glyph icon gardening care, watering can and water drops](https://i0.wp.com/grownbyyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/011T2-H1_Care_Tree-2.png?fit=64%2C64&ssl=1)
Easy–moderate. Keep moist. Fertilize annually in spring. Mulch.
Spent flowers may be deadheaded to improve appearance and direct energy to the foliage, but the plants will not produce new flower buds or bloom again until the following season.
Shear the plants to the ground in late winter. Propagate by division, seed.
About This Plant
![024-sprout Hands with young plant logo or glyph. Copyright ©2020 FlatIcon. All Rights Reserved. Used under license from licensor.](https://i0.wp.com/grownbyyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/024-sprout.jpg?fit=64%2C64&ssl=1)
Good choice for borders, containers, ground covers in cottage, shade gardens and water feature shorelines. Good for cutting, drying. Leave dried flower spikes on plants through winter for ornamental effect. Japanese beetle, slug, snail and powdery mildew susceptible.