Family
Saxifragaceae
Botanical Name
ASTILBE 'Red Light' ('('Rotlicht')')
Plant Common Name
Astilbe, False Spirea, Red Light Astilbe
General Description
Middle-sized and free-flowering, the hybrid astilbe ‘Red Light’ 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 tall, slender upright stems with spikes that have a branching habit a bit like a tall, skinny Christmas tree. Tiny, closely packed, red flowers clothe the spikes, transforming them into plush, billowing, plumes that wave in the breeze. One plant may produce several stems, making a cloud of bloom high above the leaves in mid through late summer. Deadhead the plant after the first flush of flowers; you may be rewarded with new stems and a second flush of bloom in autumn. When the flowers dry, the spikes can remain attractive into autumn, thanks to their shape.
Like most astilbes, ‘Red Light’ prefers partial shade and fertile, well-drained, moist soil and is almost never eaten by deer and rabbits. Given constant moisture, the plant holds its leaves in good health through the growing season. Plant it in a shady bed, border, or woodland, singly or en masse, with hostas and ferns for companions.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
8 - 2
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USDA Hardiness Zone
4 - 8
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Sunset Zone
A2, A3, 1a, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 14, 15, 16, 17
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Plant Type
Perennial
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Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
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Native To
Hybrid Origin, Asia
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Average
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Soil type
Clay, Loam
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Upright/Erect
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Red
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Dark Green
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Mixed Border
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Attracts
Hummingbirds
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Self-Sowing
No