(Frikart's Aster, Wonder of Stafa Aster)

Members of this group of asters were originally hybridized around 1920 by German plant breeder, Karl Frikart, and were produced by crossing the European species Aster amellus with Aster thomsonii, a species native to the Himalayas. The cultivar ‘Wonder of Stafa’ produces open, bushy plants with oval, somewhat fuzzy, medium-green foliage and large, yellow-centered, lavender-blue daisies which cover the plants in profusion over a long period from early summer well into autumn.

Aster...

(Asteriscus, Gold Coin Mediterranean Beach Daisy, Mediterranean Beach Daisy)

This is an ideal dry-climate perennial. The parent species, Mediterranean Beach Daisy, is native to coastal bluffs of North Africa and the arid eastern Mediterranean where there is little rainfall but the maritime influence keeps the air moist. This makes ‘Gold Coin’ particularly suitable for water conservation in dry coastal regions. This low, spreading perennial produces dense clumps of gray-green leaves that are slightly fuzzy.

Through the midsummer when little is in bloom, ‘Gold Coin’ flowers...

(Astilbe, ColorFlash™ False Spirea, False Spirea)

There’s no need to wait for ColorFlash™ to bloom because this fabulous cultivar offers vivid foliage all season long. Hybridized in Europe and introduced by Anthony Tesselaar International, ColorFlash™ false spirea is a regal choice for partially shady sites. While other hybrids offer only variation in flower color, this outstanding performer has leaves in brilliant hues of crisp green, purple-red and burgundy. In fall they turn the vivid sunset shades of gold, orange and red.

This herbaceous...

(Astilbe, ColorFlash™ False Spirea, False Spirea)

Brighten up any dull shade garden with the season-long vivid lime green foliage color of ColorFlash™ Lime false spirea. Hybridized in Europe and introduced by Anthony Tesselaar International, this reliable perennial is unique because it offers a double whammy of colorful foliage and flowers.

In late spring through early summer plants put forth tall, upright plumes of fluffy pink flowers. Happy specimens may produce five to nine stalks per plant when only a year old. Like many hybrid Astilbe,...

(Astilbe, Cattleya False Spirea, False Spirea)

Astilbe is a stunning herbaceous perennial with fuzzy plumes that appear in summer on slender stems, following the emergence of frondlike leaves that unfurl in spring. The cultivar 'Cattleya' produces large, plumes of rose-pink in midsummer and likely again in early fall. Dried flower-heads retain garden interest through winter.

Astilbes prefer a partial shade location and fertile, well-drained soil. If the chosen garden area's soil is dry, reloacte to more shade. Plant in groups in shady,...

(Astilbe, Country and Western False Spirea, False Spirea)

This astilbe, ‘Country and Western,’ is an herbaceous perennial grown for its feathery flowers that rise on thin stems from lush ferny foliage. The flower spikes that top the stems have a branching habit a bit like a Christmas tree, and are clothed by tiny, closely packed flowers that transform them into soft plumes. A member of the Music Series, ‘Country and Western' blooms with bright pink flowers in mid through late summer. Deadhead the plant after the first flush of flowers; you may be rewarded...

(Astilbe, Delft Lace Astilbe, False Spirea)

Lustrous, deep green leaves make the contrasting backdrop for upright plumes of dark pink flowers on the Delft Lace astilbe. The patented cultivar 'Delft Lace' produces dark green leaves with a shiny, silvery cast, and becomes darker green to almost blushed with burgundy when grown in more direct sunlight. The flowers are fuzzy plumes of delicate peach-pink on dark salmon-pink stems. This cultivar originated from a controlled breeding program in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands in 1998, in an effort to...

(Astilbe, Drum and Bass Astilbe, False Spirea)

The free-flowering ‘Drum and Bass’ is a vigorous, compact hybrid Astilbe that produces big bright purple-red floral plumes in early to midsummer. This exceptional cultivar was bred in The Netherlands by Harry Verduin. Its ferny green leaves remain attractive through summer, and the spent blooms turn to brown when they set fruit. If left uncut, they will remain architectural and attractive through winter.

This easy to grow plant prefers partial shade and fertile, moist soil. If well-irrigated...

(Astilbe, Erica Astilbe, False Spirea)

Erica astilbe is a clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with summertime plume flowers. This hybrid cultivar has bronze leaves and a tall, slender inflorescence of pink flowers which bloom in midsummer.

Erica astilbe needs full sun to partial shade and must be grown in moist, well-drained soils and perform best in shady locations. The flowerheads fade to attractive shades of brown in the fall, providing landscape interest through winter. They function best in shade gardens, borders, rock gardens,...

(Astilbe, False Spirea, Fanal False Spirea)

Astilbe is a stunning herbaceous perennial with fuzzy plumes that appear in summer on slender stems, following the emergence of frondlike leaves that unfurl in spring. 'Fanal' is a hybrid favorite and lengthy bloomer that produces intense garnet-red plumes in late spring to mid summer. Dried flowerheads retain garden interest through winter.

Astilbe plants prefer a partial shade location and fertile, well-drained soil. This hybrid will tolerate drier and sunnier locations. Plant in groups...