Plants
Astilbe
Astilbe · Saxifragaceae
Astilbe brings light into the shade: above feathery, fern-like foliage, plume-shaped flower panicles in white, pink and carmine red float over the bed like crests of foam in summer. Hardly any other perennial flowers as reliably in part-shaded, moist spots. A nice aside for us in Düsseldorf: the most important garden varieties were bred right next door in Wuppertal.
- Light
- Partial to full shade; full sun only in permanently moist spots.
- Watering
- Generous — the soil should always be fresh to moist; drought is its worst enemy.
- Care level
- Medium
- Botanical
- Astilbe
The range falls into several groups: the Arendsii hybrids like ‚Fanal‘ (dark red) and ‚Brautschleier‘ (white) are the classic border perennials at 60 to 90 centimetres. Japonica varieties flower earlier and more compactly, chinensis forms like ‚Pumila‘ stay low, spread gently and are the only ones to tolerate slightly drier conditions. Thunbergii hybrids carry elegant, arching plumes.
The key to astilbe is moisture: it is a perennial for fresh to moist, humus-rich soils at the woodland edge, by the pond or in a north-facing bed. It only tolerates full sun with permanently wet feet — if the soil dries out, the leaves curl and the edges scorch. That is the most common reason astilbes fail.
Choose the right spot, though, and there is little work: astilbe is fully hardy, ignored by slugs and needs hardly any attention beyond a dose of compost in spring. A mulch layer of leaves or bark humus keeps the soil evenly moist and saves a lot of watering.
A practical tip: do not cut off the spent plumes straight away. They stay attractive even when brown, give the winter bed fine structure under hoarfrost, and are only removed close to the ground in early spring. Plumes can be cut for the vase too — ideally when about half the florets have opened.
Astilbe is classically combined with other shade partners: ferns and hostas provide the calm foliage base, columbine and hellebores extend the season forwards. In groups of three to five plants of one variety it looks far stronger than scattered singly. Reassuring for families: astilbes are considered non-toxic to children and pets.
Is Astilbe toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Astilbe is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and children, making it a worry-free choice for family gardens. As with all ornamentals, eating it is still not advised.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Plant in part to full shade; sun only with permanently moist soil.
- 02Never let the soil dry out — water deeply and regularly in dry summers.
- 03Mulch with leaves or bark humus to keep moisture in the ground.
- 04Give compost or organic fertiliser in spring.
- 05Leave spent plumes standing over winter and cut them back in spring.
- 06Divide every four to five years in spring if the clump goes bare in the middle.
Frequently asked
- Why are my astilbe's leaves turning brown?
- In nine out of ten cases the soil is too dry. When short of water, astilbes first curl their leaves, then the edges scorch. Water deeply, mulch and, if in doubt, move it to a shadier, moister spot — the plant usually recovers there the following year.
- Is astilbe toxic to cats or dogs?
- No, astilbe is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs and harmless to children as well. That makes it one of the relaxed candidates for gardens where pets and children roam.
- Can you cut astilbe for the vase?
- Yes, but with judgement: cut the plumes when about half the florets are open — cut too early, they will not open further. In the vase they last around five to eight days and want plenty of water. Dried, the plumes make lovely filler too.
- When do you cut astilbe back?
- Only in early spring, just before new growth. The dried plumes and leaves protect the rootstock in winter and look genuinely pretty under hoarfrost. An autumn cut brings no benefit and robs the bed of its winter structure.