(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, 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.

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(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...

(Chinese Astilbe, Chinese False Spirea)

The colorful plumes of the compact Astilbe in the Vision series are numerous, dense and showy. In late spring to midsummer the flowers rise from dense, uniform clusters of glossy dark green or bronze-green, compound leaves. The flowers last longer than others and come in shades of pink, rose and red.

Chinese in origin, these hardy perennials grows best when provided partial sun to shade and moist, rich, well-drained soil. Once established, they are low maintenance. The spent flowers...

(Ganges Primrose, Variegated Primrose)

Successful in many warm soils, the spreading green and yellow foliage of variegated Ganges primrose is a lovely backdrop for the white or yellow blossoms that flush purple with maturity. An exact nativity is uncertain, but believed to hail from eastern Africa, and India eastward into Malaysia. This is a tender perennial or subshrub that sprawls out and is reminiscent of a large petunia plant. It is usually regarded as a pretty weed in the tropics (in lawns), often invasive along the beaches.

The...

(Japanese Aucuba)

Crotonifolia Japanese aucuba is an evergreen shrub with glossy, leathery green leaves mottled with yellow spots; it is a female flowering plant and will not form the typical red fruits unless a male plant is nearby.

Aucuba tolerates most well drained soil and prefers partial shade locations protected from hot afternoon sun and winter winds. Aucuba is excellent for hedges or massing and may be grown as a large houseplant.

(Goldstrike Japanese Laurel, Japanese Aucuba, Japanese Laurel)

Mr. Goldstrike Japanese aucuba is an evergreen shrub bearing glossy, leathery green leaves splashed with gold; as it is male, will not produce the typical bright red fruit. Its growth habit is slightly more upright than rounded.

Aucuba tolerates most well drained soils and prefers partial shade locations protected from hot afternoon sun and winter winds. Aucuba is excellent for hedges or massing and may be grown as large houseplants.

(Japanese Aucuba, Japanese Laurel, Picturesque Japanese Laurel)

Picturata Japanese aucuba is an evergreen shrub bearing glossy, leathery green leaves with solid yellow centers and yellow speckles. Yellow variegation is unstable and leaves may revert to solid green. Bright red fruit occurs in fall and winter.

Aucuba tolerates most well drained soils and prefers partial shade locations protected from hot afternoon sun and winter winds. It is excellent for hedges or massing and may be grown as large houseplants.

(Japanese Aucuba, Japanese Laurel, Variegated Japanese Laurel)

Variegated Japanese aucuba (gold dust plant) is an evergreen shrub bearing glossy, leathery green leaves with golden yellow spots and bright red fruit in fall and winter.

Gold dust plant tolerates most well drained soils and prefers partial shade locations protected from hot afternoon sun and winter winds. It is a great hedge plant or shady foundation accent and can also be utilized as a cool-room houseplant.