False Goat's Beard Astilbe japonica

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 which 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).