(Hybrid Japanese Astilbe, Japanese False Spirea)

Hybrid Japanese astilbes are desirable herbaceous perennials for shade. In the spring, plants put forth clumps of feathery compound leaves of dark green. Typically their tall, feathery plume-like flower clusters appear in early to midsummer, but some cultivars may bloom earlier. There are many cultivars that differ in height, flower density and color. Blooms come in shades of red, pink, rose or white and turn brown after blooming, so it looks best to cut them back once they are spent.

Most astilbes...

(Astilbe, False Spirea)

Star astilbe (Simplicifolia Group hybrids) are clump-forming, herbaceous perennials that were first native to wooded areas of eastern Asia, primarily Japan before being crossed with other species. They are usually compact and low-growing with compound leaves (although the species has simple oval leaves) and plume-like floral inflorescences of pink, rose, and white borne in the summer. The flowerheads fade to attractive shades of brown in the fall, providing landscape interest through early winter....

(Astilbe, False Spirea, Key False Spirea)

Star astilbe (Simplicifolia Group hybrids) are clump-forming, herbaceous perennials that were first native to wooded areas of eastern Asia, primarily Japan before being crossed with other species. They are usually compact and low-growing with compound leaves (although the species has simple oval leaves) and plume-like floral inflorescences of pink, rose, and white borne in the summer. The flowerheads fade to attractive shades of brown in the fall, providing landscape interest through early winter....

(Chinese Astilbe, Chinese False Spirea)

Feathery flowerheads and mounds of lush foliage make Astilbe chinensis a favorite in woodland and shade gardens throughout the temperate regions of the world. It is native to China, Japan, Korea and Russia and is a vigorous perennial and spreads slowly to form dense clumps.

Graceful mounds of dark green, twice divided, fern-like leaves grow from thick, brown rhizomes (lateral underground stems). The showy, pyramidal flowerheads appear in summer above the compact mounds of foliage....

(Chinese Astilbe, Finale False Spirea)

A selection of the Chinese astilbe, ‘Finale’ is a small herbaceous perennial grown for its tolerance of shade, dependable bloom, tall spikes of flowers, and hairy, toothy leaves. It blooms after most astilbes, in mid to late summer, at the top of tall, slender upright stems with spikes that have short widely spaced branches a bit like a rangy Christmas tree. Tiny, closely packed, pink flowers clothe the spikes, transforming them into exceptionally billowing, plumes. One plant may produce several...

(Chinese Astilbe, Chinese False Spirea, Heart and Soul Chinese Astilbe)

The vigorous patented Astilbe ‘Heart and Soul’ has a uniform compact habit and neat upright plumes of pale lavender-pink flowers. The fabulous feathery pyramidal blooms have a distinctive blue-caste making them bluest of all astilbes. They appear in late spring to summer above compact mounds of dark green, ferny, compound leaves.

Chinese in origin, this hardy perennial is surprisingly heat and sun-tolerant and noted for its adaptability. Still, it grows best when provided partial sun...

(Chinese Astilbe, Chinese False Spirea, Milk and Honey False Spirea)

The Chinese astilbe 'Milk and Honey' is a woodland perennial grown for its tall stems topped by large plume-like panicles (clusters) of tiny flowers. This summer-blooming delight is creamy white when it first opens and ages to pale pink. Unlike other Chinese astilbe, it often blooms into late summer and tolerates more drought and sun than most. The soft flowers appear on sturdy slender stems above a clump of deep green ferny leaves that are lightly marbled with silver when they first emerge.

...

(Chinese Astilbe, Chinese False Spirea)

A selection of the Chinese astilbe, ‘Purple Candles’ is a small herbaceous perennial grown for its tolerance of shade, dependable bloom, narrow spikes of flowers, unusual color and toothy leaves. It blooms after most astilbes, in mid to late summer, on short upright stems that branch to tall upright flower spikes. Closely packed, purplish-red flowers clothe the spikes, transforming them into soft candles. One plant may produce several stems, making a candelabra of bloom above the leaves. The flower...

(Chinese Astilbe, Chinese False Spirea, Vision in Pink Chinese False Spirea)

The patented ‘Vision in Pink’ is a heavy bloomer that produces numerous plumes of bright pink. The flowers are tall, upright and strong-stemmed. In late spring to midsummer they rise from dense, uniform clusters of glossy dark green compound leaves. This selection was bred by Gert van Buren in The Netherlands and is a cross between the unpatented cultivars Astilbe chinensis ‘Kremhilde’ and Astilbe chinensis ‘Superba.’

Chinese in origin, this hardy perennial grows best when...

(Chinese Astilbe, Chinese False Spirea, Vision in Red Chinese False Spirea)

The patented ‘Vision in Red’ is a heavy bloomer that produces numerous plumes of bright magenta-red. The flowers are tall, upright and appear on strong purple-hued stems. In late spring to midsummer they rise from dense, uniform clusters of glossy dark green compound leaves. This selection was bred by Wim van Veen in The Netherlands and is a cross between the unpatented cultivars Astilbe chinensis ‘Purpurkerze’ and Astilbe chinensis ‘Pumila.’

Chinese in origin, this hardy...