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'
- 'Bremen', Deutschland
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bremen'
- Deutschland
An early blooming (early to mid June) cultivar with white inflorescences, to 2' tall
- 'Bremen'
- 'Bremen', Deutschland
- Tags:
-
-
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
