Japanese Astilba is a perennial herbaceous crop characterized by a compact or spreading bush, depending on the species. The birthplace of the plant is East Asia, where it can be found on the banks of rivers, in thickened plantings and lowlands. The popularity of Japanese astilbe is due to its peculiarity to grow in dark humid places, where other cultures cannot develop, and at the same time flourish lushly and continuously.
Astilba Japanese
This culture belongs to the family Saxifrage. The plant got its name because of the matte surface of the leaves, as "a" and "stilbe" in translation means "no gloss".
Japanese Astilba is widely used for landscaping personal plots
In Europe, culture was imported from Japan at the beginning of the last century. And since then it has gained wide popularity as an ideal plant for secluded corners of the garden, where the sun rarely looks.
Features and appearance of Japanese astilbe
This culture belongs to the category of perennials, but at the same time its aerial part is updated annually. With the advent of spring, shoot growth is activated, the height of which can reach 30-80 cm, depending on the variety and type of Japanese astilbe.
The leaves of the culture are located on long stalks. Plate twice or thrice pinnate with a serrated edge. Their color can vary from greenish red to dark green.
The underground part is a rhizome, on top of which the kidneys of renewal are located. The peculiarity of the development of the Japanese astilbe is that the lower part of the root is gradually dying off, and new shoots 3-5 cm long grow on top of it. Therefore, in the autumn, it is necessary to sprinkle the plant at the base in order to maintain young growth.
The plant forms small openwork flowers, which are collected in panicled inflorescences of a rhombic shape. Their shade can vary from red-pink to lilac-lilac and white, depending on the variety. The flowering period begins in June-July. Its duration is on average 2-3 weeks.
Important! The culture can grow in one place up to 10 years, but starting from 5 years its decorative qualities are reduced, therefore it is recommended to plant bushes at this age.
Varieties and types of Japanese astilbe
Thanks to the efforts of breeders, many species and varieties of Japanese astilbe were bred. This allows you to create compositions from several plants with different shades and height of the bushes, as well as combine them with other perennial crops.
Some varieties are able to grow not only in the shade, but also in open sunny areas. Moreover, many of them can fully develop and bloom for a long time in areas with a close occurrence of groundwater.
Important! Japanese astilba does not tolerate prolonged absence of rain, drying out of the soil and lack of nutrients in the soil.
Astilba white
This species is distinguished by panicled inflorescences of white color. The height of the bush reaches 80 cm. The leaves are glossy, dark green in color. It is characterized by a high level of frost resistance and easily tolerates a decrease in temperature to -37 degrees.
Flowering occurs in mid-June and lasts for 25-30 days. This variety serves as the basis for the creation of new hybrid forms. For long-term flowering of this species, a sufficient amount of moisture and diffused sunlight are necessary.
Astilba white
Astilba Sister Teresa
This variety is compact. It reaches a height and a width of 60 cm. Paniculate inflorescences of the plant have a delicate pink tint and exude a pleasant floral aroma. Astilba Sister Teresa blooms in the first decade of July and continues to delight the owner for 2-3 weeks.
Leaves are brilliant, openwork, saturated green shade. The form is complex, triple-separated. The variety prefers to grow in partial shade. Resistant to low temperatures, undemanding to the care and composition of the soil.
Note! Astilba Sister Teresa, if necessary, can be planted in sunny areas, but with mandatory shading at noon.
Astilba Sister Teresa
Astilba Arends Amethyst
This species is a hybrid. It forms a sprawling bush up to 80 cm high. The hue of the leaves is yellowish-green, light. Forms panicled inflorescences of light lilac color. Their length is 30 cm, and the diameter is in the range of 7-10 cm.
Flowering occurs in the first half of July and lasts 25-30 days. This variety prefers to grow on loam with a low level of acidity. The variety does not require shelter for the winter.
It is recommended to plant in places with diffused light, as well as in sunny areas with frequent watering.
Astilba Arends Amethyst
Astilba Gloria Purpurea
This kind of culture is a hybrid. It is characterized by a compact form of a bush, the height of which is 50 cm. It forms upright strong peduncles 90 cm high. The leaves are dark green with a reddish tint.
The inflorescences of Astilbe Gloria Purpurea are lush, pink in color with an ash-purple hue. They reach a length of 20 cm and a width of 10 cm.
Flowering in this hybrid occurs in the second half of July and continues until early August.
The variety has high frost resistance: up to -40 degrees.
Astilba Gloria Purpurea
Astilba Curly
This species belongs to the category of miniature. The height of the bush reaches 30-40 cm. The leaves are very dissected, fringed. They are significantly tougher to the touch than other species. The plates have a dark green saturated color.
Inflorescences are magnificent, graceful, 15 cm long. The form is rhombic. Their shade is pale pink.
Advice! This view is ideal for decorating alpine slides that are located in the back of the garden.
Astilba Curly
Astilba Chocolate Shogun
A new variety of culture, which is characterized by a rich chocolate-purple hue of glossy leaves. It is distinguished by high decorative qualities, since this color is preserved throughout the season.
The plant reaches a height of 50-60 cm and a width of 40-50 cm. Inflorescences of a creamy pink hue 20-25 cm long.
Astilbu Chocolate Shogun is recommended to be planted in partial shade. It goes well with fern, hosta, Siberian irises.
Frost resistance up to -29 degrees.
Astilba Color Flash Lime
This variety stands out from the rest. He is able to change the shade of foliage throughout the season. At the beginning of the growing season, the plates have a yellow-green color with a lemon tint and a bright brown fringing along the edge.
During flowering, the leaves darken significantly. They acquire a lime color around the edge, and in the middle of the plate become light cream. Inflorescences change their shade from light to dark lilac.
Advice! This species shows the greatest decorative qualities when landing in partial shade.
Astilba Color Flash Lime
Astilba Red Sentinel
The variety is characterized by a compact bush, the height and width of which is 60 cm. The leaves are openwork, dark green in a saturated shade. To match it, the plant forms inflorescences of burgundy shade. They are rhombic in shape, loose structure. Their length reaches 20 cm.
The flowering period begins in the second decade of July and lasts until the beginning of August. This variety retains its decorative qualities when grown in the shade.
Astilba Red Sentinel
Astilba Etna
This variety forms a sprawling bush 60-70 cm high and 70 cm wide. The flowering period begins in early July and lasts 2-3 weeks, depending on growing conditions.
This species belongs to the Arends hybrid group. It differs in dense fluffy inflorescences of maroon shade. Their length is 25 cm and a diameter of 10-12 cm. The leaves are openwork, green in color. Flowering occurs in July and lasts more than 4 weeks.
Important! This hybrid easily tolerates a drop in temperature to -40 degrees or more.
Astilba Brautschleier
This variety of culture forms bushes with a height of 70-80 cm. According to external signs, Brautscheyer is in many ways similar to the Washington variety. Openwork leaves with a brownish-green hue. The inflorescences are loose slightly drooping, up to 30 cm long. Their shade is white and cream.
The flowering period of the Astilbe Brautscheyer begins in July. Its duration is 16-18 days. It is recommended to grow in partial shade.
Astilba Brautschleier
Astilba Arends Fan
This variety is characterized by rapid growth. It forms a sprawling bush 60 cm high and up to 80 cm in diameter. The subspecies is part of Arends hybrid group. Forms a powerful ligneous rhizome. Stems and petioles are reddish.
Leaves of complex shape, when blooming, have a red-brown color, and in the process of growth turn green. Inflorescences are lush, dense. Their length is 25 cm and a width of 8 cm. The flowering period begins at the end of June and lasts 3-4 weeks.
Note! This view can be used for cutting.
Astilba Pumila
This variety is compact in size. The height of the plant reaches 50 cm and a width of 60 cm. The leaves, when blooming, have a light green color, and subsequently darkens. The edges of the plates are serrated. In an adult plant, the leaves are thick, 25-30 cm high.
The flowers are collected in large inflorescences, initially they have a bright purple color, like the variety Elizabeth Van Vin, and then fade slightly and become ashen-pink.
Important! This species is characterized by prolonged flowering from the second half of July until mid-August.
Astilba Pumila
Astilba Europe
This species belongs to the category of miniature. The total height of the bush does not exceed 50 cm. It forms a panicle inflorescence of a soft pink hue, but in the end they burn out slightly and become creamy. Their length ranges from 10-15 cm.
The leaves of astilbe Europe are shiny green. This species has no aroma. Flowering occurs at the end of June and lasts 3-4 weeks.
Astilba Europe
Astilba Arends America
A fast-growing species characterized by a spreading bush. Its height is 70-80 cm. Inflorescences are rhombic in a light purple hue.
Flowering in America begins in July and lasts 18 days.
This variety is resistant to disease and can withstand frosts down to -34 degrees.
Astilba Japanese Montgomery
This species is especially popular with flower growers. It forms compact bushes reaching a height of 60-70 cm, and a width of 40-50 cm. The leaves are glossy, small in size with an interesting openwork pattern.
The inflorescences of the astilbe of Japanese Montgomery are dense, bright red in color. The variety is mid-late, blooms in the second half of July. It is recommended to grow in partial shade.
Astilba Japanese Montgomery
Astilba Japanese Peach Blossom
This variety of culture is distinguished by a tall bush up to 80 cm high. It forms lush, dense inflorescences of salmon-pink color. Their length is 15-18 cm. When blooming, the leaves have a light green hue, and closer to summer they turn green.
Flowering begins in early July and lasts 2 weeks. This species has a high level of frost resistance and is not susceptible to disease. It is recommended to land in partial shade. But if necessary, it can grow in open areas with regular watering.
Astilba Japanese Peach Blossom
Astilba Japanese Mainz
A miniature form of culture. The height of the plant does not exceed 40-50 cm. The leaves have a dark green saturated hue. Flowers of bright lilac color, collected in inflorescences 10-15 cm long.
This variety is recommended for rabatki and borders located in the shady corners of the garden. The plant develops well under trees and near ponds. Flowering occurs in July and continues until the first days of August.
Astilba Japanese Bonn
According to the description, this variety is distinguished by fluffy bright red inflorescences 20 cm long. Their shape is conical. Compact bush 60 cm high. Leaves are carved, brownish-green.
This variety combines well with light species, forming a contrasting composition. It shows the highest decorative qualities when grown in moist nutrient soil, even in an open sunny area. The variety is characterized by high frost resistance, does not need shelter for the winter.
Important! With prolonged drought, the plant dies.
Japanese Astilba includes a wide variety of varieties and hybrid forms. But, despite this, all plants are characterized by undemanding care. Also, the culture is easily propagated by division of the rhizome. In this case, the size of the delenka is not important, since it easily takes root in the presence of at least 1 kidney of renewal and a small shoot of the root. The main thing is to constantly keep the soil moist.
