(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)

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...

(Ganges Primrose)

Successful in many warm soils, the spreading foliage of 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 medium green leaves are...

(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...

(Branford Beauty Ladyfern)

Beautiful and lacy best describes the light gray-green foliage with silvery hues on the Branford Beauty ladyfern. A hybrid of Japanese painted fern and ladyfern, it was developed in Branford, Connecticut by Nick Nicou.

The pointed, triangular fronds have a reddish stem and is ornately lined with small, feathery leaflets (pinnae). Each pinna is light green but heavily masked in gray and silver tones, or green with noticeable flecks of gray-silver. It becomes a clumping plant, with the fronds held...

(Ghost Ladyfern, Ladyfern)

Ghost ladyfern is a hybrid cross between the Japanese painted fern and American ladyfern. It forms upright to arching clumps of broad silvery-gray to frosted apple-green fronds with dark purple midribs. This vigorous, deciduous fern grows a little taller than both its parents.

Overall, it prefers partial to full shade, but a little sun will bring out its silver color. Like most ferns, it thrives in fertile, evenly moist soil but can tolerate moderately dry soil once established. Plant in woodland...

(Ladyfern)

Ladyfern is a deciduous, terrestrial fern occurring throughout temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Vigorous, elegant and easy to grow, it was a great favorite in gardens of the Victorian era. Its tall, light green, upright to arching fronds are lined with narrow, pointed, finely divided leaflets which have a soft, airy appearance. The stems are typically green, but are sometimes tinted with red-brown. Numerous cultivars of this highly variable fern have been developed, including those...

(Crested Ladyfern, Dre's Dagger Ladyfern)

The tall, arching fronds of this eye-catching ladyfern cultivar are lined with long, very narrow, finely divided leaflets ending in small, branched crests, which cross over one another to form numerous “X” shapes. Perfect for shaded mixed borders, woodland gardens and containers, ‘Dre’s Dagger’ should planted where its distinctive foliage can be admired up close.

Ladyfern is a deciduous, terrestrial species occurring throughout temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It thrives in full...

(Crested Ladyfern)

The fresh green fronds of this distinctive ladyfern cultivar are lined with thin, finely divided leaflets with crested (branched) ends. Perfect for shaded mixed borders, woodland gardens and containers, ‘Encourage’ is more vigorous than many other crested forms. It should be planted where its delicate, frothy foliage can be admired up close.

Ladyfern is a deciduous, terrestrial species occurring throughout temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It thrives in full to part shade and moist,...