Where does the plant look best?
In the wild, astilbe can be found in dense deciduous forests and along the banks of reservoirs. It perfectly tolerates moderately moist soil and shaded areas, which makes it possible to plant this plant near an artificial lake and in gardens with tall trees and shrubs.
This amazing plant, in addition to its luxurious forms, also has several colors, which allows you to decorate almost any flower bed or lawn in various styles and directions. The range of astilbe shades is small:
- white,
- soft peach,
- pink,
- lilac,
- deep scarlet.
But this does not bother landscape designers, who invariably use the plant in their projects.
Here are some planting options featuring this flower, as well as combinations of astilbe with other plants.
Various problems
Astilbe is resistant to diseases and pests, but it requires some care. If there are no good conditions, the plant will die. Therefore, before asking why a flower is dying, you need to analyze its contents.
With proper care, the flowers are large and rich in color.
If the astilbe begins to dry out, then it does not have enough watering. The soil should always be kept moist. This is especially important if the plant is under the hot sun. Otherwise, the leaves will begin to dry out and curl.
The color saturation of astilbe depends on fertilizing. It is better to apply organic fertilizers once every three weeks, as they fill the soil with useful substances. Dark and beautiful leaves grow well after this treatment.
Note! Sometimes astilbe is affected by snails or aphids. In this case, it is sprayed with a solution of laundry soap.
Some gardeners do not know: astilbe is a shrub or a flower. The correct option is the second one, but this is not so important. The main thing is that the plant has high decorative properties. White, burgundy, purple and other flowers will decorate any garden.
Source
Astilbe in roadside flower beds and borders
Tall fluffy astilbe, planted along garden paths, looks impressive and original both in the company of other flowers and shrubs, and among plantings consisting exclusively of its different subspecies and varieties.
Application in landscape design and compatibility with other plants
The hosta landscape design is represented by both compositions of bright colors and flower beds of modest colors. If you are going to combine a large leaf of a contrasting or monochromatic color with bright flowers, you must have at least basic knowledge about the dimensions of plants, their growing season, and varieties.
Modest-looking hostas will not get lost even in a bright flower garden
In the case of hosta framing flower beds, a plot next to a gazebo, garage or fence, you can safely experiment, the main thing is that the landscape is in harmony as a whole, has a single style, idea, and plot. Numerous photos of hosta decorating a plot in the garden fascinate with the abundance of colors from the beginning of summer to the end of autumn.
Hostas can be either a full-fledged part of the flower garden or form borders and frame garden paths
A distinctive feature is also that the bush feels good for decades without replanting. Over time, the hosta only acquires a more magnificent appearance, despite the annual cutting of leaves. On top of that, this amazing plant blooms, usually not brightly, for a short time. The photo in the garden design shows what colors the hosta goes with.
The photo shows the hosta variety “Green Fontaine” during the spring flowering period
Leaves and stems are sensitive to direct sunlight. It is recommended to avoid the sun when choosing a site for the location of the hosta.
It is customary to group plants based on their height. Varieties of blue color, reaching 60 cm, are appropriate to dilute with bright notes, such as astilbe, for example.
Hosta and astilbe in the same flower bed - plants planted together are able to maintain their decorative properties until frost sets in
Astilbe in mixborders
The spreading panicles of astilbe effectively complement flower and shrub crops in mixed compositions.
A few more examples of the use of astilbe of different varieties and hybrids in landscape design.
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As mentioned earlier, astilbe loves moist soil and therefore can be planted near small bodies of water.
When designing a landscape, it is necessary to take into account the compatibility of plants. Astilbes are especially expressive in tandem with hosta, barberry, spirea, fern and juniper.
Astilbe bushes near the trees
Astilbes look advantageous in the shade of the crown of large deciduous and coniferous trees, against the background of large and medium-sized shrubs.
Astilbes and hostas
Tall, slender astilbes go well with hostas with wide, bright leaves. These plants complement each other very favorably.
Tandem with juniper
Against the background of coniferous juniper, astilbe looks especially elegant, attracting the eye and being a bright accent in the composition.
Examples of design of naturgardens and park areas.
Astilbe is one of those flowering perennials that does not require complex care and, most importantly, can survive cold winters in open ground. No wonder this beautiful plant is deservedly popular among gardeners and landscape designers.
- Author: Ilona Lukina
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general characteristics
Origin
Astilbe / Astilbe is a perennial from the Saxifraga family. Both pronunciations are correct and appear ubiquitously in encyclopedias or gardening books.
While working on a description of the plant, the Scotsman Hamilton drew the attention of his colleagues to the lack of luster in the greenery of the stem, leaves and petals of tiny flowers. Matte color is a distinctive feature of many varieties. "A-stilbe" literally means "without shine."
And although today many hybrids bred by breeders are characterized by a bright gloss, the genus has retained the old name.
The wild perennial is native to Japan, North America, East Asia and the Russian Far East. Astilbe prefers broad-leaved forests and is literally ineradicable along the banks of streams and swamps. It is always humid there, the plant is comfortable.
Snowy winters allow the perennial roots to withstand temperatures down to -30 degrees below zero. In spring, in place of dead old stems, numerous young shoots with leaves of various shapes and colors appear.
Description
Most astilbe species are characterized by pinnate, serrated dark green or red-green leaves. Simple forms are less common. The length of the stem in the natural environment reaches 2 m. This is rare among cultivated specimens. The highest varietal astilbe stretches within 1 - 1.5 m.
Tiny flowers form panicles of different sizes and colors. The rich palette of astilbe deserves respect. Inflorescences are:
- white;
- creamy;
- pink;
- coral;
- purple;
- others.
There are not only blue and yellow shades. The rest - in any interpretation. The photo shows a small area. Only a small part of the possible colors and paints is collected here.
The flowering period of the crop depends on the variety. Today, markets are represented by many hybrids, differing in height, density, and shape of inflorescences. Gardeners have a real opportunity to achieve continuous flowering from the beginning of June until almost frost.
Thus, early varieties bloom in mid-June - early July. Average - until the end of July. Late - in August.
