(Astilbe)

A spreading low-growing perennial from southeast Asia. False spirea has deeply cut shiny leaves and feathery plumes of white flowers in summer followed by rusty-brown seed pods that remain attractive into winter. This compact plant makes a nice ground cover in the shady garden or can be used as an edging or in the front of the border. It should be grown in moist, organic soils and will tolerate acidic conditions.

(Astilbe, Darwin's Snow Sprite, False Spirea)

Small and free-flowering, ‘Darwin’s Snow Sprite’ is a selection of an astilbe native to Japan. It is an herbaceous perennial grown for its tolerance of shade, dependable bloom, plush spikes of flowers, toothy leaves and diminutive size. It blooms in summer at the top of slender upright to nodding stems that have a branching habit a bit like a Christmas tree. Tiny, closely packed, pink flowers clothe the spikes, transforming them into plush plumes. One plant may produce several stems, making a wayward...

(Astilbe, False Spirea, Jacqueline False Spirea)

Small and free-flowering, ‘Jacqueline’ is a selection of an astilbe native to Japan. It is an herbaceous perennial grown for its tolerance of shade, dependable bloom, plush spikes of flowers, and dwarf mound of toothy leaves. It blooms in summer at the top of slender, upright to nodding stems that have airy branches a bit like a Christmas tree. Tiny, closely packed, pink flowers clothe the spikes, transforming them into plush plumes. One plant may produce several stems, making a wayward group of...

(Astilbe, White Wings Astilbe)

False spirea is a spreading low-growing perennial from southeast Asia. 'White Wings' has deeply cut shiny leaves and feathery plumes of white flowers in summer followed by rusty-brown seed pods that remain attractive into winter. This compact plant makes a nice ground cover in the shady garden or can be used as an edging or in the front of the border. False spirea should be grown in moist, organic soils and will tolerate acidic conditions.

(Astilbe)

Pale lilac blue flowerheads and low-growing, crinkled green foliage make the dwarf astilbe among the most cherished plants for woodland and shade gardens in temperate regions. This hybrid resulted in the early 20th century from efforts by Georg Arends of Ronsdorf, Germany.

Short 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 leaves. Blooms are lilac to lavender-blue,...

(Astilbe, Perkeo Astilbe)

A hardy perennial worthy of incorporating into any small-scale or fairy garden design is the dwarf astilbe. Small rosy pink flowerheads and low-growing, crinkled green foliage make 'Perkeo' a particularly stunning small plant. This hybrid astilbe has origins in the early 20th century from efforts by Georg Arends of Ronsdorf, Germany.

Short mounds of dark green, twice divided, fern-like leaves grow from thick, brown rhizomes (lateral underground stems). The showy, pyramidal flowerheads appear...

(Rose Astilbe, Rose False Spirea)

Feathery pastel pink flowerheads and mounds of lush foliage make rose false spirea great in woodland and shade gardens throughout the temperate regions of the world. This species is the result of crossing the taller, white-flowering Astilbe japonica with the bronze-green leaved, red or pink flowering Astilbe chinensis. Both parents are native to the cool, humid forests of east Asia and are vigorous perennials that spread slowly to form dense clumps.

Graceful mounds of dark...

(Peach Blossom False Spirea, Rose Astilbe, Rose False Spirea)

Middle-sized and free-flowering, the hybrid astilbe ‘Peach Blossom’ is an herbaceous perennial grown for its tolerance of shade, dependable bloom, plush spikes of flowers, and toothy, uniform leaves. It blooms in summer at the top of slender upright stems with spikes that have a branching habit a bit like a Christmas tree. Tiny, closely packed, peach pink flowers clothe the spikes, transforming them into plush, billowing plumes. One plant may produce several stems, making an airy cloud of bloom above...

(Astilboides, Shieldleaf Rodgersia)

Bring drama to a cool, shady woodland garden by planting the shieldleaf rodgersia, which captures attention with its large, jagged leaves and upright flower stems. A clump-forming herbaceous perennial, its native range is northeastern China and North Korea. Slow-growing, creeping rhizome roots eventually create a broad plant in the landscape.

Light green leaves emerge in spring, with softly hairy surfaces. Each blade rises on a long petiole stem that attaches in the blade center. The leaf is...

(Great Masterwort, Magnum Blush Masterwort)

Masterwort ‘Magnum Blush’ is an herbaceous, clump-forming perennial grown for larger, more numerous flowers. Masterworts are native to the alpine forest and meadows of Central and Eastern Europe. They have palmately lobed lower leaves with simple, stalk-less leaves on the stems. Masterwort blooms are unusual; they are produced on stalks above the foliage in dense, flat clusters surrounded by papery bracts (modified leaves) spring throughout mid-summer. The flowers are desirable for cutting and...