Astilba white planting and care. How to separate the kidneys of renewal

name astilba

Derived from Greek words"a" - very, "stilbe" - shine. Given, probably, for the shiny leaves.

Astilba description

The genus unites over 30 species distributed in East Asia, Japan and North America. In Russia, only 2 species are found (on Far East and Kunashir Island). In nature, they grow in broad-leaved forests, along the banks of streams, in places where moisture is retained in summer.

Astilbes tolerate cold winters well. under a layer of snow, for example, in Canada, according to official data, they go north to zones 3b-4a (according to the American classification), where the temperature in winter drops to -37 ° C.

These are perennial rhizomatous herbaceous plants with the aerial part dying off for the winter. The stems are erect, height depending on the species is from 8 to 200 cm. Numerous basal leaves on long petioles, twice or thrice pinnate, rarely simple, dark green or reddish green, serrated.

Small flowers, white, pink, lilac, red or purple, are collected in apical inflorescences - panicles of various lengths. Blooms in June - July. The fruit is a box. In 1 g up to 20,000 seeds. The most spectacular astilbe during flowering. Their delicate inflorescences appear in early July and do not lose their attractiveness for 25-35 days.

The rhizome of astilba is dense or loose, depending on the species, woody. Annually, daughter buds are formed in the upper part of the rhizome, and its lower part gradually dies off. The vertical growth of astilba is 3-5 cm per year. therefore, at the end of autumn, fertile soil is poured to the bases of the bushes. Besides, astilbe care consists mainly in maintaining soil moisture.

astilba inflorescences

They can be pyramidal, rhombic, paniculate, but drooping ones are especially graceful. The decorativeness of the inflorescences depends on their density. small flowers collected in elongated panicles. The flower petals of some varieties are short, and the inflorescences are airy and openwork, as if covered with small buds, in other varieties, the petals are elongated, and these inflorescences look soft, fluffy.

It is very beautiful when there are several colors or shades in the inflorescence (varieties "Peach and Cream", "Montgomery", "White Wings"). Given the structure of the inflorescences, the whole variety of species is divided into groups: pyramidal - the lateral branches of the inflorescences depart from the main axis almost at a right angle and evenly decrease from the base to the top of the inflorescence; rhombic shape - inflorescences resemble a rhombus. Lateral branches depart from the main axis at an acute angle.

Rhombic inflorescences more common in varieties of Japanese astilba; paniculate - inflorescences have numerous branched branches extending from the main axis at an acute angle and evenly decreasing towards the top. This form is characteristic of most varieties of Arends astilba; drooping form - inflorescences with flexible drooping branches. Drooping inflorescences have varieties derived from Astilba Thunberg and Lemoine.

According to the timing of flowering, astilbes are also distinguished early (blooming in late June - early July), medium (in July) and late (blooming in August). The height of the astilba varies from 15 cm (Lilliput variety) to 2 m (David's astilba). According to the height of the bush, the plants are divided into low - 15-60 cm tall, medium - 60-80 cm and high - 80-200 cm.

There are about 10 species in culture. Selection has given gardeners a range of hybrid varieties. All astilbes are moisture-loving, winter-hardy, resistant to pests and diseases.

Astilba growing conditions

Optimum illumination is a rarefied shadow or shading during the hottest time of the day. However, the nature of cultivars is more flexible and many varieties have "forgotten" the conditions under which their wild relatives live. Indeed, many astilbes feel great on open sun. Flowering here is more abundant, but shorter, and the foliage is slightly lighter.

When choosing a place, the timing of flowering is very important. Early and late varieties bloom well and for a long time both in the shade and in the sun, but it is better for medium-flowering plants to look after shaded corners, since the bright July sun sharply reduces their flowering time.

Most varieties of astilba can grow in places with fairly high groundwater and even tolerate stagnant water. Astilbe does not tolerate long-term drought. Poor soil, open sun and lack of rain can kill the plant. In such cases, astilbes need to be watered twice a day - early in the morning or in the evening.

Help plants and fertile soil, dense planting, mulching with shavings or bark. Astilbes do not tolerate overheating of the upper part of the rhizome very well, and mulch helps to reduce overheating, moisture loss, keeps the soil loose, prevents the appearance of weeds and, very importantly, creates favorable conditions for wintering. In flower beds, it is best to mulch plants immediately after planting, covering the entire surface of the soil mulch with a layer of 5 cm.

Some astilbes tolerate relatively dry soils well - a. x arendsii "Federsee", a.korcana, well-grown bushes a.chinensis "Superba", "Purpurlance". And there are those that can grow on heavy clay soils - these are representatives of the group of Chinese hybrids - x chinensis "Pumila", "Visions", "Vision in Pink", "Vision in Red".

It is important that astilba has enough phosphorus and potassium in the root layer of the soil. In the breeding beds in transverse grooves (1 m long), we pour 1-2 handfuls of bone meal and 25-30 g of complex fertilizers.

When planting in a flower garden, pits are dug 20-30 cm deep and wide, 1-2 handfuls of bone meal and ash are poured into them, 25-30 g of mineral fertilizers (norm per sq.m.), humus is added. All this is mixed, spilled with water. Planted delenki are covered with mulch with a layer of 3 cm.

In favorable conditions, astilbes grow rapidly. Astilbes are divided and transplanted every 4-5 years, growing especially rapidly after 3-4 years. This is due to the rapid vertical growth of the rhizome. Gradually, the old bushes stick out too much, the young roots located at the base of the buds are at the very surface and dry out quickly, which greatly reduces the duration and quality of flowering - the peduncles become smaller, the inflorescences become smaller.

However, in principle, astilbes can grow in one place for a long time, up to 15-20 years. To maintain the decorativeness of old plants, fertilizer should be taken care of annually. Astilbes are fed first in the spring after regrowth (nitrogen fertilizers predominate), then immediately after flowering or in the fall (potassium and phosphorus - 20-25 g per plant). Carefully loosen the soil and then mulch again.

Reproduction of astilba

Seeds, germinating buds of renewal, division of the rhizome. With the help of seeds, species astilbes are most often propagated, varieties - only for breeding purposes. The fact is that seedlings are characterized by polymorphism - features mother plants only partially preserved or completely lost.

astilbe seeds very small. They are tied up well, but they do not always have time to ripen. If the seeds are still ripe, in September they are shaken out of the inflorescences. And in March-April, they are sown superficially in boxes filled with a mixture of sphagnum peat and sand in a ratio of 3: 1.

Seed germination is low. Seedlings appear after 3-4 weeks, grow slowly and only at the end of the year form a small rosette of leaves. If astilbes do not crowd each other, it is better to transplant them. next spring. Plants grown from seeds bloom in the 3rd year.

Reproduction of astilbe by the kidneys

In early spring, a renewal bud with a part of the rhizome is cut out from astilbes (a method of reproduction with a "heel"). It is believed that up to 1/3 of the kidneys can be removed without harm to the mother liquor. Rooting is carried out in greenhouses. The substrate used is the same as for sowing. It is poured in a 5-7 cm layer on ordinary fertile soil. On the permanent place astilbes are planted next spring. In the same year, the plants bloom. It is possible, but difficult to propagate by green cuttings in early spring.

Reproduction of astilba by dividing the bush

This method of reproduction is the most familiar and widely used. Delenki are prepared so that each has 1-3 buds and a rhizome 3-5 cm long, best with adventitious roots. Experiments have shown that the size of the division is not significant, since most varieties reproduce equally well in small and large (3-10 times larger) divisions.

Division is best done in early spring, then by the fall the astilbes will bloom. You can transplant at almost any time, provided good watering within a few days. Astilbes also take root well during flowering, this makes it possible for the buyer not to purchase a “pig in a poke”, but to choose exactly what is needed.

Yes, and the seller will avoid possible charges, just as it often happens when selling, for example, daylilies, which manifest themselves in all their glory only in the second or third year after planting.

Astilbe planting

Astilbes can be transplanted at any time growing season, even at the time of flowering, however, within 2-3 weeks after transplantation, they need to be watered. It has been established that in the conditions of Lithuania (southern Baltic) the most the best time for planting this crop - the month of May. The growth of transplanted plants is highly dependent on heat and moisture in the spring. If any of these factors are absent, astilbes do not root well.

In flower beds, astilbes are planted at a distance of not less than 30 cm (high varieties - 50 cm), in borders - 30-50 cm. For breeding purposes, astilbes can be planted in furrows or on ridges. We plant them on ridges 1 m wide, in transverse grooves every 15-30 cm, 6-7 plants each, i.e. 23 or 46 plants per 1 m2.

We pour 30-40 g of complex mineral fertilizers into the furrow, in which nitrogen does not exceed 10%. Most often, these are Kemira-Horti-2 fertilizers, which are good for most ornamental perennials. A mixture of simple mineral fertilizers can also be used, observing the nitrogen ratio.

Diseases and pests of astilba

Astilba practically does not get sick with anything, occasionally it is affected by slobbering pennitsa, strawberry and gall nematodes. The larvae of the slobber pennitsa live in their foamy secretions, located in the axils of the leaves. They feed on leaves, weakening the growth and development of peduncles. The easiest way to deal with pennitsa is by hand.

The strawberry nematode infects the buds and leaves, it can only be eliminated by the complete destruction of diseased plants. The gall nematode lives in the roots, causing the formation of galls on them. You can fight it by destroying diseased roots.

Use of astilba

Astilbes are wonderful plants for landscaping. They can be planted in monogroups near shrubs. And single blotches of astilba look especially elegant among plantings of ornamental conifers, although in their natural habitats astilba grows in deciduous forests. Astilbes do best near ponds or moist semi-shady places.

In flower beds, astilba's traditional neighbors are hostas, ferns, Siberian iris. However, astilbes are perfectly combined with other plants. These are bergenia, geykhera, heart-leaved tiarella and Verya, some geraniums, such as blood-red, panicled phlox, and many bells.

Primroses, doronicum, gravel, iberis, bathing suit can grow next to astilba. In the foreground, they look spectacular blooming in spring undersized perennials, For example different types saxifrage, as well as krupka, lamb, tenacious, umbilical. You can try to plant some types of stonecrop, for example, white, false.

Vilnius amateur flower growers create borders from astilba. Nice and no worries. Astilbes can be used not only to decorate the garden. Inflorescences of many varieties in the full flowering phase are suitable for cutting, and dried look great in winter bouquets.

Astilba flowering time

The flowering time of various varieties of astilba is from late June to September. If you wish, you can pick up such a collection to admire almost all summer. After the end of flowering, the bushes do not lose their decorative effect due to the beautiful foliage.

Peduncles with seed boxes also look neat, and some are very beautiful, for example, high grades with lush dense panicles ("Superba", "Purpurlance"), with a drooping inflorescence form: "Moerheimii", "Betsy Cuperus".

Usually seed pods are brown in color, but in some varieties they are long time remain green ("Bridal Veil") or deep red ("Glow"). You can postpone pruning until spring, the foliage will serve as a shelter for the winter and trap snow, and graceful panicles will enliven the winter landscape.

In Holland and Germany, astilba is used for distillation in March-June. The most suitable varieties for this are "Peach Blossom", "Queen Aleksandra", "Bronselaub" and many Japanese hybrids.

AT ancient China astilbe has been used as medicinal plant, its roots and leaves have various properties - tonic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, they were used for diseases of the skin and kidneys. Until now, in Japan and China, seasoning for meat dishes is prepared from its leaves.

distillation of astilba

For distillation of astilba, Japanese hybrid astilba varieties with a compact undersized bush are used. It is recommended to take young seedlings with 6 - 10 buds, grown from renewal buds, and not obtained by dividing old bushes. Selected plants are planted in autumn in pots of the right size, which are placed in a cold greenhouse and covered with spruce branches or peat.

In December - January, they are transferred to a room with a temperature of 10 - 14 ° C. When the leaves bloom, the temperature is raised to 16 - 18 ° C, watered abundantly and often, sprayed with warm water. But when inflorescences appear, spraying must be stopped. Astilbes bloom 10 - 14 weeks after they are transferred to the greenhouse.

At later dates of transfer (February - March), flowering occurs faster. The following varieties are recommended for distillation: Bonn, Cologne, Emdem, Europe, Deutschland, Peach Blossom. Forcing astilbes are used for decorative design of public and office premises.

For many gardeners and landscape designers, astilba enjoys well-deserved attention and love. Unpretentious and beautifully flowering, it can diversify any corner of the site and add bright colors both by itself and in various original mixborders.

beautiful astilba bloom

Astilba inflorescences do not leave indifferent anyone who has ever seen her, let alone grown her. This chic perennial varies depending on the variety in height from 9 to 150cm. Planted as a green border or even a small hedge during flowering, it is a chic sight. There are varieties that bloom for about a month, and there are those who please with inflorescences throughout the summer season.

Some varieties bloom with openwork flowers, and some are fluffy, as if filled with air and lighter than a feather in weight. In total, astilba has four variants of inflorescences - pyramidal, diamond-shaped, paniculate and drooping. Some varieties can be with several shades at once.

There are more than three dozen varieties of astilba, but only a dozen of them are cultivated in our country. A third of this dozen is quite tolerant of exposure to bright sunlight, the rest are grown in partial shade and tolerate even shade well.

Photo gallery of astilba varieties

Astilba Chinese variety "Pumila" Astilba Arendsa variety "Amethyst" Astilba Japanese hybrid variety "Deutschland" Astilba Arendsa variety "Sister Teresa"

How to propagate astilba

The plant can be propagated in three ways - by seeds, root division or with the help of germinated buds. Astilba does not resist transplants and quickly takes root in a new place, then starting its rapid spread.

Reproduction of astilbe by seeds can only be afforded by a person who has incredible patience or hones the skill of breeding garden plants. flower crops. The thing is that astilbe seeds are small and grow for a long time. They are harvested in September and sown in boxes in early spring. Even with proper care, they will germinate only three to four weeks after planting. Now they will need to be grown for another whole year in order to land in open ground. And plants will bloom only in the third year. So if you want to appreciate the beauty blooming astilba as soon as possible, you will have to use other methods of reproduction.

Namely, dividing the root or dividing the bush, as this process is also called. This is the most common and affordable breeding option for astilba. The bush is dug up, its root is divided into parts, each of which has at least two or three buds and a root of at least 5-7 cm. When divided in this way in early spring, you can enjoy the flowering of astilba in the fall.

It must be remembered that astilba's roots are hard, almost wooden, and sometimes they have to be separated with a hacksaw.

The third method is something in between the previous two in terms of complexity. It will also require patience. In spring, one bud of renewal with a root is cut off from an adult plant and transplanted into a prepared substrate in a greenhouse. Here the astilba will take root throughout the year until next spring. After planting in open ground, it will bloom in July-August. This method brings results faster than the first, but it will also require a lot of patience.

Drop off time and place

There are different opinions regarding the time for planting astilba, but they all agree on one thing - the best period is spring. This is the time of awakening warmth and a large supply of moisture in the soil, which is very necessary when planting astilba. Of course, you can plant it both in summer and autumn, providing abundant watering in the first days after planting.

Astilba performs best on loams and soils with a high level of ground water

If you have decided on the time of planting the plant, now it's time to find appropriate place. Assume that astilba loves moisture very much. In the wild, it settles near water bodies, and in areas it grows well on soils with a high level of groundwater.

When choosing a place, consider the position of the sun throughout the day - choosing an open place illuminated by the sun all day is not recommended.

The best place to land will be a point shaded by tall shrubs or trees. If you do not find such places, you can plant astilbe on the shady side near the house, where the sun's rays will only reach part of the daylight hours.

The best place for planting astilba is shaded tall bushes and trees place

If the plant is exposed to sunlight all day, the flowering period will be greatly reduced and its quality will drop. The flowers will shrink and lose their inherent brightness, as will the leaves, which, instead of a rich juicy green color, will have a pale green appearance. Medium-flowering varieties of astilba generally show their best flowering only in the shade.

Soil preparation and planting (video)

For planting astilba, they dig holes with a diameter of 25-35 cm, between which they maintain a distance of at least 30 cm. Flower complex fertilizer, bone meal, ash and humus are introduced into the pits. Fertilizers are mixed with each other, while the proportion of nitrogen should not exceed 10% so that the plant does not suffer.

Do not skimp on water when watering the holes, because astilbe loves moisture and high level ground water. So the extra water won't hurt her.

Before planting, the roots of the plant are straightened, after which they are placed in the hole, sprinkled with a layer of mulch 3-5 cm thick. The hole is spilled with water, covered with soil, which must be tamped. Dry leaves and sawdust placed under the bush help to better retain moisture for the roots.

In the future, you only need to maintain moisture at the roots of astilba by conducting regular watering. In addition to watering the soil, it will periodically be necessary to fertilize and mulch the root zone. Since the soil must always be moist, this creates favorable conditions for bacteria, so to avoid problems, sometimes add potassium permanganate to the water to decontaminate the soil.

Astilba is quite good at transplanting even in flowering state.

Further care for astilba is not so difficult, but important. Since it is the maintenance favorable conditions for astilba allows her to show her best and longest flowering. If you do not live in the southern regions, and the soil in your area is close to loam, this best opportunity plant astilba in your garden, which will delight you with its beautiful flowering for 10-15 years.

Astilbe - decorative flower belonging to the saxifrage family. This is not a very popular plant among gardeners, you will not find it anywhere. But astilba is an underestimated plant, because in addition to beautiful small flowers collected in elegant inflorescences (growing up to 60 cm), it has beautiful decorative, fairly large leaves that make the garden rich even after the end of the flowering period.

It has many species and varieties, the height of which can be from 15 cm to 2 meters. His flowers are very diverse. different shades white, pink, purple and red. Astilbe leaves can be rich dark green, burgundy or bronze.

In nature, there are more than 40 species and 400 varieties of this interesting flower. Live astilbe looks no less great than in the photo. It was brought to us from North America, but it should also be considered its homeland East Asia with Japan.

The correct choice of the place and time of planting astilbe will be the key to their rapid growth and the fact that the flower will successfully take root. In the presence of enough heat and moisture, soon you will get a beautiful ornamental plant that will delight you and surprise your neighbors.

The rules for planting on the beds are somewhat different for different varieties. For undersized plants a distance of 30 cm is enough, for tall ones it must be at least half a meter.

Astilba is suitable for humus-rich, fertile soil with plenty of potassium and phosphorus. If the soil is not nutritious enough, it is advisable to add bone meal, humus and complex fertilizers to enrich the soil, into holes about 30 cm deep, mix well and water abundantly.

For good growth, astilba does not need a lot of sun at all, it also feels great in diffused shade, so this flower can be planted against the wall of a house or a fence. However, it may not grow well in heavy shade. If you plant astilba in an open area with constant sunlight, you need to monitor it. Regular watering and mulching of the earth is required (this can be done with sawdust, pebbles, peat or straw). Sheltering the top layer of soil around the astilbe allows you to maintain soil moisture and prevent overheating. In addition, in such conditions the plant is excellent. survive the winter.

Astilbes should not be planted near trees, as a struggle for moisture may begin, which will adversely affect the plants, making them weak.

Another undoubted advantage of them is that only young bushes require weeding at the very beginning of growth. Later, the rhizomes of the plant grow and independently drown out the weeds.

Cultivation and care

Under good conditions and regular top dressing, this flower can please its owners from 10 to 15 years, however, it decreases over time decorative properties stops flowering.

astilba needs feeding depending on soil moisture. In addition to nourishing the soil itself, before planting the plant in the spring and after the start of flowering, the plant is fed with potash and phosphorus fertilizers and covered with humus.

Astilba requires regular watering and sufficient moisture. Even a slight drying of the soil around the root can lead to the death of the flower.

Astilbe stems are quite strong and elastic, they do not break and are not afraid strong wind or heavy rains. However, withered inflorescences must be cut, no matter what they prevent the flower from growing, and take away its nutrients.

In late autumn, the stems are cut at ground level. These flowers tolerate winter well and do not require much care, especially old bushes. But if winter this year is without snow, it is advisable to cover young plants so that they do not freeze.

Astilba will delight in flowering in winter if you transplant it into a pot. To do this, in the fall they dig out the strongest young bush and transplant it into a flower tub. Hide the plant in a cold place (basement or refrigerator) until the beginning or middle of winter. After extraction, it is kept at 10–12 degrees until February, after which the temperature is increased by regularly watering the flower and providing it with additional light. To speed up the flowering process, you can place the roots in warm water for half a day. Astilbe will decorate the house in winter, and in spring you will simply return it to the garden.

Division

Astilba requires regular division and replanting every 3–5 years, since as the bush grows older, its rhizomes begin to grow vertically and can crawl out of the ground, exposing young shoots. This leads to their drying out, the plant begins to bloom poorly, the inflorescences become small and rare.

The division is carried out with a sharp knife into several parts with well developed kidneys and a root up to 5 cm (on average, about 5 plots are obtained), while the lower rhizomes are removed. Young bushes are planted according to the same principle as other plants and watered abundantly for the first few days.

This process can be carried out at any convenient time of the year and even during the flowering period. In the first season after transplantation, it is advisable to remove flower stalks from the bush, as they take on a lot of the plant's strength, which is necessary to take root in a new place. If it is not possible to often separate the astilba, feed it regularly and mulch it with peat or humus.

Astilbe also reproduces well by cuttings, renewal buds and seeds.

Planting astilbe seeds

Planting and growing these flowers from seeds is, of course, a more time-consuming process, but not so complicated if you follow a certain sequence:

By following these simple rules, you will grow without problems beautiful flowers astilbe from seeds.

Propagation by cuttings and renewal buds

For this method, the so-called heel is cut out from the bush at the beginning of spring. This is part of the root along with the bud, from which, after winter, a new young shoot began to develop, reaching about 5 cm in height. It is also called the kidney of renewal, it formed at the root. For cutting off, there is no need to dig out the entire bush, it is enough to rake the ground at the base.

Such cuttings cannot be planted in a flower bed in the first year, first they must be adapted in greenhouses, where they are planted in fertilized soil and also not allowed to bloom. The principle of planting is the same as in open ground. After transferring the grown cuttings to the street next season, they will begin to bloom in a few months.

Astilba cuttings can be carried out in spring and summer by cutting off young shoots that have grown up to 15 cm. It is better to choose a place for them in a diffused shade, and cover the top layer with sand. They require regular watering. Astilba cuttings are transplanted to a permanent place the next year. The disadvantage of this method is that, on average, only half of the planted cuttings take root.

Diseases and pests

The undoubted advantage of astilba is that it is practically not susceptible to diseases and small pests. This makes it much easier to care for this plant compared to many flowers.

However, there are a few issues worth noting:

If you are an inexperienced gardener, search the Internet or printed publications for photos of these pests to find out when you meet them on astilba.

Garden and flowerbed design

AT landscape design astilba is quite friendly and gets along well with many plants. Despite their low popularity, astilbes are very beautiful flowers, with which you can diversify the garden and plant picturesque flower beds.

Astilba in garden design

They look great on their own, especially if you mix several varieties of this flower in one place. After all, astilba inflorescences are quite lush, with a tall stem and juicy flowers various shades of pink, red, purple and white. These flowers will look harmonious in the shade of the house, along the fence or border and in the flower beds. Among other things, you can make a magnificent bouquet of astilba different term flowering by planting in one place various varieties that will delight you for a long time.

In mixed-type flower beds, astilbes can be perfectly combined with other plants. Among other things, astilba remains an ornamental shrub even after the end of the flower season, as it has magnificent large bright and colorful leaves.

Popular varieties

In order to decide which of the varieties of astilba are best planted on your site, it is worth highlighting the main ones.

Astilbe (lat. Astilbe)- a representative of the genus of herbaceous perennials of the Saxifrage family, uniting, according to various evidences, from 18 to 40 species. “A” - without, “stilbe” - shine, that is, Lord Hamilton, a botanist from Scotland, who gave the name to the plant, meant that astilbe leaves are dull, dull, without shine. Astilbe is native to East Asia, North America and the Japanese Islands. It grows in broad-leaved forests, along the banks of streams, in places where it is humid in summer. To Europe from Japan, astilba at the end of the XVIII or early XIX centuries brought by hunters for outlandish plants Karl Thunberg and von Siebold, and since then it has been a favorite of all shady gardens.

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Planting and caring for astilba (in brief)

• Landing: May June.
• Bloom: end of June-August.
• Lighting: penumbra or shade.
• The soil: moist loam with a pH of 5.5-6.5.
• Watering: frequent and plentiful, in the heat - 2 times a day.
• Hilling: regular.
• Top dressing: in spring, when hilling, apply humus, in mid-June - potash fertilizers, before flowering is completed - phosphorus.
• Reproduction: seed, vegetative - dividing the bush, separating the rhizome with a kidney without digging the bush.
• Pests: slobbering pennitsy, gall and strawberry nematodes.
• Diseases: root rot, bacterial spot, phytoplasma and viral diseases.

Read more about growing astilba below.

Astilba flower - description

Astilbe is a rhizomatous plant, the aerial part of which dies off for the winter. Astilba stems are erect, from 8 cm to 2 m high, depending on the species or variety. The leaves are long-petiolate, sometimes simple, sometimes twice or thrice pinnate, serrated. Color is dark green or reddish green. The rhizome of astilba is woody and, depending on the species, loose or dense. Every year, new buds form in the upper part of the rhizome, while the lower part gradually dies off. The annual vertical growth is approximately 3-5 cm, therefore, before winter, fertile soil is added to the exposed rhizome.

Astilbe flowers are apical inflorescences of small openwork flowers of white, red, lilac, pink, purple hues, blooming in June-July-August. Inflorescences are paniculate, rhombic and pyramidal. Very beautiful species with drooping inflorescences. Astilbe fruit is a box. According to the timing of flowering, astilbes are early (late June-early July), medium (July), and late (August).

Astilbes breed vegetatively (dividing the bush and separating the rhizome with a kidney) and seeds. And although inexperienced flower growers prefer vegetative methods, we will tell you how to grow astilba from seeds, because it is the seed method of reproduction that allows you to select and get new varieties. Astilba seeds are sown in March: a mixture of peat and sand (1: 1) is placed in a wide container 15 cm high, and a layer of snow 1 cm thick is placed on top (in a snowless winter, you can scrape snow in the freezer), over which the seeds are scattered. Melting snow, moistening the soil, immerses the seeds in it.

After the snow melts, place the container in a transparent bag and refrigerate for twenty days (this is called stratification) until germination, and then transfer to a bright, warm (18-22 ºC) place. Be careful with watering, otherwise you will destroy the seedlings: water under the root or inject water into the soil with a syringe. When the seedlings have 2-3 leaves, they dive into small pots to plant in the ground. When to plant astilbe from seedlings, we will cover in the next section.

In the photo: Astilbe seed size against the background of a coin

Astilbe planting

Growing and caring for astilbe does not involve any particular difficulties, so let's start with the main thing: astilba is planted in May-June from north side at home, in the shade of trees or bushes, although some varieties can adapt to more sunny place and bloom will be more abundant, but less long. If there is a fountain or a pool nearby, it is generally ideal. The soil is preferably loamy, with a high occurrence of groundwater. The optimal acidity is pH 5.5-6.5. Astilba in the garden perfectly coexists with hostas: host leaves retain soil moisture and prevent it from overheating in the heat.

In the photo: Planting an astilba tuber in the ground

Planting astilba in spring preceded by digging the site and removing the rhizomes of weeds and other plants, followed by fertilizing the flower bed with compost, rotted manure or rotted peat at the rate of 2 buckets of fertilizer per 1 m 2. Before planting astilbe, prepare holes 20-30 cm deep and wide at a distance of 30 cm from each other and throw half a glass of ash and 1 tablespoon into each mineral fertilizer then water well. Place the seedlings, or rather, the astilbe root so that the soil layer above the growth buds is at least 4-5 cm. Cover it with earth, compact it and mulch the planting with a layer of humus or peat 3-5 cm thick.

astilbe care

The main feature of astilba- the growth of the rhizome upwards and the gradual death of its lower part. That is, over time, the root system is without nutrition, so the hilling of astilba is of particular importance.

Do not let the soil dry out: timely watering is one of the mandatory rules, which includes caring for astilba.

In addition, mulching will allow you to not only protect root system from overheating, but also to keep soil moisture longer, and also eliminate weeds and the need to often loosen the soil. Astilba's water requirement is medium to high depending on the species and variety, but all varieties need regular and abundant watering during the formation of inflorescences. In severe drought water the astilba twice a day - early in the morning and in the evening.

In the photo: How to properly plant astilbe tubers in open ground

Without a transplant, astilba can grow for 5-7 years, but if you take care of it carefully and fertilize it on time, then its lifespan in the same area can last up to twenty years. Astilba is being fed in the spring with nitrogen fertilizers (applying humus during hilling), in mid-June - potash (half a liter per bush of a solution of 2 tablespoons potassium nitrate per 10 liters of water), and before the end of flowering - phosphorus (20 g of superphosphate per bush). After top dressing, the soil is loosened and mulched again.

Astilbe, like many other introduced plants, left its specific "enemies" in the places of origin. In our latitudes, it is sometimes struck by slobbering pennitsa and two nematodes - strawberry and gall. pennitsa settles in the axils of the leaves and forms foamy saliva-like secretions, inside which live leafhopper larvae. The more pennits, the more the leaves wrinkle, becoming covered with yellow spots. As a result, the plant withers partially or completely. You can get rid of slobbering pennitsa by treating plants with Confidor, Rogor, Karbofos or Aktara.

In the photo: Astilbe flowering in a flower bed

Astilba after flowering

When the astilba fades and the flower stalks begin to dry out, do not rush to cut them off, because even in a semi-dry form, the spectacular astilbe inflorescences will decorate your garden. But at the end of the season, when you have to put things in order in the flower garden before winter rest, the astilba stems need to be cut flush with the ground, and the area should be mulched. Especially if before that you planted astilba by rhizome division. This is done in order to rejuvenate the astilba, because when the root becomes woody, it will be difficult to separate it. Therefore, in early autumn, the rhizomes are divided so that each division has a growth bud, then the next year, as a rule, the transplanted astilba is already blooming.

In the photo: Astilba has faded

It is only necessary to mulch the area, and it would be good to throw spruce branches on freshly transplanted rhizomes to protect new plants from winter frost and be sure that astilba will not die in the spring from a sharp temperature drop.

Types and varieties of astilba

The culture uses 10-12 plant species, which, as a result of selection, have produced many hybrid varieties. Today, the number of varieties has reached two hundred. The most popular hybrid groups are Arends hybrids (Arendsii Hybrida), Japanese hybrids (Japonica Hybrida), Chinese astilbe (Astilbe Chinensis) and its varieties, as well as simple-leaved astilbe (Astilbe simplicifolia).

In the photo: Blooming white astilba in the garden

Astilba Arendsa (Astilbe x arendsii)

It is represented by forty varieties, which are the result of crossing the base species - Astilba David - with other species. These are powerful, sprawling, tall bushes (up to 100 cm) of a spherical or pyramidal shape with dark green leaves and terminal inflorescences of white, lilac, red and pink flowers. Blooms longer than other species for 30-40 days from July to August. Cultivated since 1907, but the best varieties were created by G. Arends.

Popular varieties are: astilba Gloria, Diamant, Weiss Gloria, Ruby, Glut and others. Amethyst, Weiss Gloria and Ruby reach 80 cm in height, Diamant - 90 cm. But if Diamant, Glut and Rubin have panicled inflorescences, then Gloria and Weiss Gloria have diamond-shaped inflorescences.

In the photo: Astilba Arendsa (Astilbe x arendsii)

Astilbe Chinese (Astilbe chinensis)

The plant is up to 1-1.1 m high, the basal leaves are large, long-petiolate, the stem leaves are smaller, on short petioles, shiny and openwork. Inflorescences are dense, 30-35 cm long, flowers are small, usually lilac color, but there are varieties with pink and white flowers. Cultivated by flower growers since 1859, has undersized forms (var. pumila hort.) from 15 cm to 25 cm and forms with cone-shaped inflorescences var. Taquetii. Astilbes of this species grow well in sunny areas.

The most beautiful varieties of Chinese astilbe are Astilbe chinensis taquetii Purpurlanze of incredible lilac color, pink Astilbe chinensis Vision in Pink, Astilbe chinensis (Pumila Hybrida) Vision in Red of dark purple color.

In the photo: Chinese Astilba (Astilbe chinensis)

Astilbe Japanese (Astilbe japonica)

It is represented by plants that are low (not higher than 80 cm) and compact, with shiny, as a rule, ornamental leaves. Paniculate inflorescences consist of pink or white flowers that bloom earlier than other species, and even when dried, they decorate the garden until late autumn. Japanese astilbe has been cultivated since 1837, and the first varieties were created by the same G. Arends. Modern varieties have excellent cold resistance and take root well.

Of the most popular: the Deutschland variety (Astilbe japonica Deutschland) with white flowers, the very beautiful pink Rhineland (Astilbe japonica Rheinland), the elegant pale lilac Europe (Astilbe japonica Europe) and, finally, the Montgomery Astilbe (Astilbe japonica Montgomery) with brightly fluffy panicles - red or burgundy.

In the photo: Japanese Astilbe (Astilbe japonica)

Astilba simple-leaved (Astilbe simplicifolia)

Dry air and high temperatures are poorly tolerated by simple-leaved hybrids (Hybrida) and Thunberg hybrids (Thunbergii Hybrida), and this must be taken into account. Drooping, very spectacular inflorescences make low plants (20-50 cm) airy.

Among the most exquisite varieties of simple-leaved Praecox Alba with white loose “candles” of inflorescences, the pinkish Bronze Elegans, which got its name from the bronze shade of the leaves, as well as the 90 cm high coral Straussenfeder and the white Professor van der Wielen from Thunberg hybrids.

In the photo: Astilbe simple-leaved (Astilbe simplicifolia)

Flower growers appreciate astilbe for a long time, lush bloom, shade tolerance and resistance to high soil moisture.

A sprawling shrub with openwork leaves on reddish cuttings looks spectacular not only during flowering, but throughout the entire garden season.

Brief description of the plant

Astilba (Astilbe) - herbaceous plant saxifrage family. The homeland of this decorative perennial can be considered Japan, East Asia and North America. The genus includes about 40 species and more than 400 varieties. The height of the astilba varies from 15 to 200 cm. The flowers are collected in paniculate inflorescences 10-60 cm long. Coloring can be varied: flowers of white, red, pink and purple shades look especially attractive. Large leaves form an openwork bush of dark green, burgundy, bronze color. The fruit is a capsule with small seeds. Flowering time - June-August.

Choosing the right place and time for planting will guarantee that the astilbe will quickly take root.

Growing conditions

Astilbe don't need a lot of light for fast growth. Best of all, she feels in a rarefied shade. In such conditions, flowering will be long and abundant.

Although varieties with white and light pink flowers (Weiss Pearl, Gloria, Bergkristal and others) feel great in the sun. Flowering in this case is shorter, but twice as intense.

Astilbe looks spectacular on semi-shady, rocky hills, in discounts along lawns, on the shore. This plant will help to decorate the site with taste and enliven even the darkest corners of your garden possessions.

Main varieties

Astilbe David (Astilbe davidii)

A plant with a wide-spread form of a bush reaches a height of 150 cm. The leaves are complex, wrinkled, light green in color and brownish veins. The flowers are lilac-pink with a lowered axis. Blooms in July-August.