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False Spirea Astilbe japonica

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called False Spirea:

Phonetic Spelling
a-STIL-bee juh-PON-ih-kuh
Description

False Spirea or Astilbes are clump-forming perennials that require partial to full shade and moist, rich soils. Astilbes are common in shade and woodland gardens. They are clump-forming perennials that feature fern-like mounds of leaves. Astilbes are native to mountain ravines of China and Japan and can provide a solution for the gardener seeking a summer flowering perennial with graceful form and beautiful foliage. Flowers are feathery plumes extending above the foliage in shades of pink, red, or white and appear in late spring and early summer.

While they will grow in full sun in the north, in most of the southern United States, they benefit from shade from mid-afternoon onward. Divide clumps when overcrowding occurs (every 3-4 years).

See this plant in the following landscape:
Courtyard Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Bremen'
  • Deutschland
    An early blooming (early to mid June) cultivar with white inflorescences, to 2' tall
'Bremen', Deutschland
Tags:
#white flowers#pink flowers#red flowers#shade garden#low maintenance#rabbit resistant#summer flowers#deer resistant#pollinator plant#pink#heavy shade tolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Bremen'
  • Deutschland
    An early blooming (early to mid June) cultivar with white inflorescences, to 2' tall
'Bremen', Deutschland
Tags:
#white flowers#pink flowers#red flowers#shade garden#low maintenance#rabbit resistant#summer flowers#deer resistant#pollinator plant#pink#heavy shade tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Astilbe
    Species:
    japonica
    Family:
    Saxifragaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Japan and China
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts bees
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Shade
    Textural
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    heavy shade, black walnut, deer, rabbits
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Clumping
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Good Dried
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    There are one to many plumes per plant. Flowers are feathery plumes extending above the foliage in shades of pink, red, or white and appear in late spring and early summer.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Feel:
    Papery
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Doubly Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Naturalized Area
    Walkways
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    English Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Black Walnut
    Deer
    Heavy Shade
    Rabbits