Often, amateur flower growers have a question, what plants can decorate the shady part of the garden? Not all flowering specimens are able to withstand partial shade, however, a flower such as astilba will feel great even under the spreading crown of broad-leaved trees. IN wild nature the plant grows in the shady and humid forests of North America and East Asia. For successful cultivation astilba will need quite a bit: choosing a suitable place on suburban area and regular care.

Varieties of astilba and the choice of location on the site

Astilba is a herbaceous perennial plant, in autumn it above-ground part dies off. The flowers are small, collected in lush inflorescences-panicles. The color of the petals is varied - from snowy white to deep purple. A little more than 10 types of plants are used to improve gardens and plots, the most popular are presented below.

• Astilba Arendsa- tall bushes, reaching a height of 80–100 cm, more than 40 varieties have been bred by breeders, most often on sale are Gloria, Rubin, Diamant, Amethyst.
• astilbe chinensis- captivates with its beauty due to the bright lilac color of the petals, the plant is able to grow well both in the shade and in open sunny areas.
• Astilbe japonica- compact bush, not exceeding 80 cm, inflorescences of bright Pink colour, look luxurious even when fading, decorating the garden until the frost.

Astilba flower - planting and care largely depends on the variety of the plant. Some specimens will feel comfortable only in the shade, while others tolerate direct sunlight well. But the main requirement of a flower is soil moisture, so astilba is often planted along ornamental ponds, streams or fountains. In areas where the level ground water passes close to the surface, the "forest beauty" will bloom much more readily and for a longer time.

Growing astilba from seeds

The plant reproduces both vegetatively, for example, by dividing the rhizome, and with the help of seeds. Seed material can be purchased at a specialized store, from friends, or collected independently from existing bushes. Sowing begins in March. For planting and caring for astilba prepare nutrient substrate. You can buy a potting mix designed for growing seedlings at the store and just mix peat and river sand in equal parts. The substrate is poured into the box with a layer of about 20 cm. It is important that there is no stagnant water in the soil; for this, several drainage holes are made at the bottom of the box.

The sowing process is quite simple. The seeds are carefully scattered on the soil, after which they are sprayed with a spray bottle. Then, the box is placed in plastic bag and put in a cool place. It can be a cellar, a vegetable store or a refrigerator. Under such conditions, the seeds should be about 20 days, after which it will be possible to notice that the first shoots have begun to hatch. Further, the seedling box is transferred to a well-lit room, the air temperature in which is kept at + 19–21 ° C. When growing astilbe, or rather, its seedlings, it is important not to destroy the plants. To prevent decay and the development of fungal diseases, spraying should be avoided, and watering should be carried out purposefully under the root with a syringe (without a needle). When the third leaf appears in the plants, it will become crowded in the box, at this stage it is necessary to pick and plant the astilba in small individual containers.

Planting astilba seedlings in the garden

At the end of May or in early June, seedlings can be planted on permanent place. It is advisable to prepare a bed for a flower garden in advance, at least 3 days in advance. Preparatory work include digging, removing weeds and debris. If the soil is very depleted, then compost, humus or rotted manure is added for digging at the rate of one and a half garden buckets per 1 m².

Beautifully flowering astilba - planting and care in the future will require fertilization. Holes are made on the ridge, the size of which is 30x30x30 cm, 3-4 st. spoons wood ash and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of complex mineral fertilizers. If a group of plants is planted, then the bushes should be located at a distance of 30–40 cm from each other (depending on the variety). Prepared recesses are poured with water from a watering can and proceed to planting plants. The astilba root system is placed in such a way that the growth buds are 4.5 cm deep in the ground. After planting, the soil should be compacted and slightly moistened, then mulched. As a mulch, humus or peat is suitable, which is laid in a thin layer (3 cm is enough).

Astilba care features

Growing astilba is a simple task, the main thing is to provide the plant with regular watering and prevent the top layer of the earth from drying out. Otherwise, the flower is quite unpretentious and will not cause much trouble to its owner.

Astilba watering and hilling

Depending on the variety and type of astelba, they consume different amounts of moisture. Some can endure a short-term drought quite steadfastly, while others will quickly begin to get sick. But everyone, without exception, needs abundant and regular watering during the formation of inflorescences, this is the only way to get beautiful and lush “panicles”. On particularly hot days, it is recommended to water the flower twice a day: in the early morning and after 17.00. To prevent the evaporation of moisture, the soil around the bush can be mulched with peat or decorative wood chips, and also planted undersized plants. For example, astilba bushes will look very beautiful next to the hosts.

The root system of a flower is interesting feature. The roots in the lower part die off over time, and the rhizome grows upward, looking out from the ground. So that the plant does not die, it is spudded annually.

Fertilization

After planting astilba, care for it should be thorough, with regular feeding, the bush is able to grow in one place for more than 15 years. It is enough to carry out 3 feedings per season, adhering to the following scheme.

• In the spring, nitrogen-containing compounds are introduced or limited to spudding the bush, adding humus to the soil.
• In June, the plant will need a lot of potassium, so a solution is prepared for irrigation: 25 g of potassium nitrate per 5 liters of clean water.
• Before the astilbes fade, it is necessary to apply phosphorus-containing fertilizers, for example, 20 g of superphosphate per copy.

After fertilizing, the soil must be loosened and the mulch layer renewed.

Preparing astilba bushes for winter

Growing astilbe, you can take your time to cut off the inflorescences, the "panicles" even in a withered state will remain bright and can become a real decoration autumn garden. Only in autumn, at the end holiday season It is worth thinking about how to restore order in the area. Bushes are cut almost flush with the ground, leaving small "stumps". To prevent freezing of the rhizome, it can be sprinkled with earth, peat or humus. If a little snowy and frosty winter is expected, then they additionally throw on top fir branches or a piece of burlap. In this case, it will no longer be possible to worry that the astilba will suffer from severe cold.

Video how to grow astilba

Astilbe (lat. Astilbe)- a member of the genus herbaceous perennials Saxifrage family, uniting from 18 to 40 species according to various evidences. “A” - without, “stilbe” - shine, that is, Lord Hamilton, a botanist from Scotland, who gave the name to the plant, meant that astilbe leaves are dull, dull, without shine. Astilba comes from East Asia, North America and Japanese islands. It grows in broad-leaved forests, along the banks of streams, in places where it is humid in summer. To Europe from Japan astilbe in late XVIII or early XIX centuries brought by hunters for outlandish plants Karl Thunberg and von Siebold, and since then it has been a favorite of all shady gardens.

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Planting and caring for astilba (in brief)

• Landing: May June.
• Bloom: end of June-August.
• Lighting: penumbra or shade.
• The soil: moist loam with a pH of 5.5-6.5.
• Watering: frequent and plentiful, in the heat - 2 times a day.
• Hilling: regular.
• Top dressing: in the spring, when hilling, add humus, in mid-June - potash fertilizers, before the end of flowering - phosphorus.
• Reproduction: seed, vegetative - dividing the bush, separating the rhizome with a kidney without digging the bush.
• Pests: slobbering pennitsy, gall and strawberry nematodes.
• Diseases: root rot, bacterial spotting, phytoplasmic and viral diseases.

Read more about growing astilba below.

Astilba flower - description

Astilbe is a rhizomatous plant, the aerial part of which dies off for the winter. Astilba stems are erect, from 8 cm to 2 m high, depending on the species or variety. The leaves are long-petiolate, sometimes simple, sometimes twice or thrice pinnate, serrated. Color is dark green or reddish green. The rhizome of astilba is woody and, depending on the species, loose or dense. Every year, new buds form in the upper part of the rhizome, while the lower part gradually dies off. The annual vertical growth is approximately 3-5 cm, therefore, before winter, fertile soil is added to the exposed rhizome.

Astilba flowers are apical inflorescences of small openwork flowers of white, red, lilac, pink, lilac shades blooming in June-July-August. Inflorescences are paniculate, rhombic and pyramidal. Very beautiful species with drooping inflorescences. Astilbe fruit is a box. According to the timing of flowering, astilbes are early (late June-early July), medium (July), and late (August).

Astilbes breed vegetatively (dividing the bush and separating the rhizome with a kidney) and seeds. And although inexperienced flower growers prefer vegetative methods, we will tell you how to grow astilba from seeds, because it is the seed method of reproduction that allows you to engage in breeding and get new varieties. Astilbe seeds are sown in March: a mixture of peat and sand (1: 1) is placed in a wide container 15 cm high, and a layer of snow 1 cm thick is placed on top (in a snowless winter you can scrape snow in the freezer), over which the seeds are scattered. Melting snow, moistening the soil, immerses the seeds in it.

After the snow melts, place the container in a transparent bag and refrigerate for twenty days (this is called stratification) until germination, and then transfer to a bright, warm (18-22 ºC) place. Be careful with watering, otherwise you will destroy the seedlings: water under the root or inject water into the soil with a syringe. When the seedlings have 2-3 leaves, they dive into small pots to plant in the ground. When to plant astilbe from seedlings, we will cover in the next section.

In the photo: Astilbe seed size against the background of a coin

Astilbe planting

Growing and caring for astilba does not involve any particular difficulties, so let's start with the main thing: astilba is planted in May-June on the north side of the house, in the shade of trees or bushes, although some varieties can adapt to more sunny place and bloom will be more abundant, but less long. If there is a fountain or a pool nearby, it is generally ideal. The soil is preferably loamy, with a high occurrence of groundwater. Optimal acidity– pH 5.5-6.5. Astilba in the garden perfectly coexists with hostas: host leaves retain soil moisture and prevent it from overheating in the heat.

In the photo: Planting an astilba tuber in the ground

Planting astilba in spring it is preceded by digging the site and removing the rhizomes of weeds and other plants, followed by fertilizing the flower bed with compost, rotted manure or rotted peat at the rate of 2 buckets of fertilizer per 1 m 2. Before planting astilbe, prepare holes 20-30 cm deep and wide at a distance of 30 cm from each other and throw half a glass of ash and 1 tablespoon into each mineral fertilizer then water well. Place the seedlings, or rather, the astilba root, so that the soil layer above the growth buds is at least 4-5 cm. Cover it with earth, compact it and mulch the planting with a layer of humus or peat 3-5 cm thick.

astilbe care

The main feature of astilba- the growth of the rhizome upwards and the gradual death of its lower part. That is, over time, the root system is without nutrition, so the hilling of astilba is of particular importance.

Do not let the soil dry out: timely watering is one of the mandatory rules, which includes caring for astilba.

In addition, mulching will allow you to not only protect root system from overheating, but also to keep soil moisture longer, and also eliminate weeds and the need to often loosen the soil. The water requirement of astilba is medium to high depending on the species and variety, but all varieties need regular and abundant watering during the formation of inflorescences. In severe drought water the astilba twice a day - early in the morning and in the evening.

In the photo: How to properly plant astilbe tubers in open ground

Without a transplant, astilba can grow for 5-7 years, but if you take care of it carefully and fertilize it on time, then its lifespan in the same area can last up to twenty years. Astilba is being fed in the spring with nitrogen fertilizers (introduction of humus during hilling), in mid-June - potash (half a liter per bush of a solution of 2 tablespoons of potassium nitrate per 10 liters of water), and before the end of flowering - phosphorus (20 g superphosphate per bush). After top dressing, the soil is loosened and mulched again.

Astilbe, like many other introduced plants, left its specific "enemies" in the places of origin. In our latitudes, it is sometimes struck by slobbering pennitsa and two nematodes - strawberry and gall. pennitsa settles in the axils of the leaves and forms foamy saliva-like secretions, inside which live leafhopper larvae. The more pennies, the more the leaves wrinkle, becoming covered yellow spots. As a result, the plant withers partially or completely. You can get rid of slobbering pennitsa by treating plants with Confidor, Rogor, Karbofos or Aktara.

In the photo: Astilbe flowering in a flower bed

Astilba after flowering

When the astilba fades and the flower stalks begin to dry out, do not rush to cut them off, because even in a semi-dry form, the spectacular astilbe inflorescences will decorate your garden. But at the end of the season, when you have to put things in order in the flower garden before winter rest, the astilba stems need to be cut flush with the ground, and the area should be mulched. Especially if before that you planted astilba by rhizome division. This is done in order to rejuvenate the astilba, because when the root becomes woody, it will be difficult to separate it. Therefore, in early autumn, the rhizomes are divided so that each division has a growth bud, then on next year As a rule, the transplanted astilba is already blooming.

In the photo: Astilba has faded

It is only necessary to mulch the site, and it would be good to throw spruce branches on freshly transplanted rhizomes to protect new plants from winter frost and be sure that astilba will not die in the spring from a sharp temperature drop.

Types and varieties of astilba

The culture uses 10-12 plant species, which, as a result of selection, have produced many hybrid varieties. Today, the number of varieties has reached two hundred. The most popular hybrid groups are Arends hybrids (Arendsii Hybrida), Japanese hybrids (Japonica Hybrida), Chinese astilbe (Astilbe Chinensis) and its varieties, as well as simple-leaved astilbe (Astilbe simplicifolia).

In the photo: Blooming white astilba in the garden

Astilba Arendsa (Astilbe x arendsii)

It is represented by forty varieties, which are the result of crossing the base species - Astilba David - with other species. These are powerful, sprawling, tall bushes (up to 100 cm) of a spherical or pyramidal shape with dark green leaves and terminal inflorescences of white, lilac, red and pink flowers. Blooms longer than other species for 30-40 days from July to August. Cultivated since 1907, but the best varieties were created by G. Arends.

Popular varieties are: astilba Gloria, Diamant, Weiss Gloria, Ruby, Glut and others. Amethyst, Weiss Gloria and Ruby reach 80 cm in height, Diamant - 90 cm. But if Diamant, Glut and Rubin have panicled inflorescences, then Gloria and Weiss Gloria have diamond-shaped inflorescences.

In the photo: Astilba Arendsa (Astilbe x arendsii)

Astilbe Chinese (Astilbe chinensis)

The plant is up to 1-1.1 m high, the basal leaves are large, long-petiolate, the stem leaves are smaller, on short petioles, shiny and openwork. Inflorescences are dense, 30-35 cm long, flowers are small, usually lilac color, but there are varieties with pink and white flowers. Cultivated by flower growers since 1859, has undersized forms (var. pumila hort.) from 15 cm to 25 cm and forms with cone-shaped inflorescences var. Taquetii. Astilbes of this species grow well in sunny areas.

astilba- one of the most elegant and interesting perennials with bright, thin inflorescences.

Huge conical panicles of hundreds of small flowers look great in a flower bed, among the stones, by the porch, along the fence or garden path, near the shore of the reservoir.

Geography of origin different types astilbe presented all parts of the world: from North America to Mongolia, East Asia and the Kuril Islands.

In our latitudes, mainly breeding varieties are cultivated - unpretentious, frost-resistant, beautifully flowering: Chinese astilba, Arends, Thunberg. These species are usually grown from seed.

Features of growing astilba from seeds

IN weather conditions middle lane Russian astilbe seeds do not ripen, and sometimes the cold comes so early that they do not even have time to start.

It turns out that there is only one way out - to buy seeds in stores.

Now many agricultural enterprises are engaged in selection work, production and sale of seeds, purchase and import of the most famous varieties from abroad.

Usually, seed, sold in our company stores, is of sufficient quality, so it’s still worth growing astilba from seeds.

Moreover, this provides excellent opportunities for experimentation and selection of new varieties, because with this method of reproduction, many parental traits not inherited, and the result may be the most unexpected.

Stratification

Before sowing astilbe seeds need to be stratified - this is required condition, otherwise the seedlings can not wait. Start this procedure in February-March. We will describe one of the most known ways stratification.

Prepare small container with a substrate (peat with sand in a ratio of 1: 1), lay a layer of snow up to 1 cm thick on top (you can take it from the freezer). Scatter the seeds over the surface without digging in.

The snow will gradually melt, moisten the soil and immerse the seeds in it. Alternatively, mix the seeds with sand and sow in moist soil.

Please note that astilbe seeds are very small, and not easy to work with.

cover the crops glass or film (you can just put the container in a plastic bag) and send for 21 days in the refrigerator. It could just be anyone dry room with air temperature from -4 to +4 degrees.

Sometimes before the end of the stratification period, the seeds start hatching.

Growing seedlings

Further crops are moving into a room with a temperature of 18-22 degrees, where very soon the entire surface of the substrate breaks with thin, like hairs, green sprouts.

Percentage of germination largely depends on the variety of astilba and the quality seed. Be careful with watering, do not destroy the seedlings. Water must be poured either under the root, or by injecting a syringe into the soil.

When 1-2 true leaves appear dive shoots directly onto the beds in open ground. Choose a semi-shady spot somewhere close to high plantings, preferably on the north side of the house.

Eat individual varieties astilbes, which have adapted well to growing in the sun. They even bloom more abundantly, but in much less time.

Great if there will be water nearby- swimming pool, artificial reservoir, fountain. Compound garden soil neutral is preferred - pH 5.5-6.5.

In astilba gardens often planted next to hostas: big leaves hostas retain moisture and keep the soil from overheating even in the most extreme heat.

Landing and care

Before boarding dig the site and carefully remove the rhizomes of weeds, fertilize the ground with rotted manure, rotted peat or compost (for each square meter- 2 buckets of fertilizer).

Pits depth for planting should be significant - up to 20-30 cm, and the distance between the holes is also not less than 30 cm. Add a tablespoon of mineral fertilizers and three tablespoons of wood ash to each hole, water it all well.

Place the seedling Thus so that the layer of earth covers the growth buds by at least 4-5 cm. Fill, compact, mulch the planting with a thick layer of peat or humus (4-5 cm).

Further care is in timely watering and hilling bushes.

Astilbe rhizome tends to grow upward, while its lower part gradually dies off, remaining without food. Therefore, hilling is very important.

A mulching allows not only protect the roots from overheating, but also retain moisture, eliminating the need for constant weeding and loosening.

Need different varieties astilbe in irrigation is different, but during the period of budding and flowering, it increases significantly in all species; in case of drought, watering is necessary twice a day - in the morning and in the evening.

In the first year after planting there is a high probability of freezing young seedlings, therefore, in the fall, with the onset of the first frost, it is recommended to mulch or transfer plants for wintering to cool, unheated rooms.

At proper care astilba grown in this way from seeds will bloom in 2-3 years.

Try to grow this wonderful flower from seed! It was in this way that the best varieties of many garden flowers were selected, and astilba is no exception. Experiment, create, and then be sure to tell us about the results!

Astilba - herbaceous perennial, a representative of the saxifrage family, which includes up to forty species. Scottish botanist Lord Hamilton gave the flower a name that literally translates from Latin as: "without shine." Thus, the scientist pointed out that the leaves of the plant are dull, dull and do not shine in the sun. Astilba is native to North America East Asia and Japan. It grows along rivers and lakes in deciduous forests.

Astilba plant: general description

Astilbe is a plant in which the aerial part dries up during the cold season, and only the rhizome remains. The stems of the flower are straight, reaching a height of 2 meters, depending on the variety. The leaves have long petioles. Sometimes they can be jagged, feathery, but most often they are simple, green or reddish-green in color.

The rhizome of the plant is woody - it can be with a dense or loose structure. Every year, buds appear in the upper part of the roots, and their lower part dies off. Since the rhizome annually increases upwards by 3-5 cm, it is sprinkled with fertile soil before wintering. In general, growing a plant involves good care and careful watering.

Astilbe forms inflorescences from small flowers of crimson, white, pink, pale purple and other shades. They bloom all summer. According to the flowering period, they distinguish early views(June, first half of July), medium (during July) and late (bloom mainly in August). The shape of the inflorescences can be different:

• Pyramidal.
• Panicled.
• Rhombic.

Species with drooping inflorescences are especially spectacular. After flowering, boxes are formed.

Astilba flower: planting and care

Astilbe propagates by separating the part of the root on which there should be a kidney ( vegetative way), as well as seeds. The easiest way to grow a plant is by dividing the bush, however, it is seed selection that makes it possible to breed new varieties. When does astilba sit down? Seeds are planted in March. For this, a wide container is taken, into which a mixture of peat and sand is poured in equal proportions.

Put on top thin layer snow- it is on it that the seeds are scattered. If there is no snow in your area in winter, you can collect it in the refrigerator. As the snow melts, it moistens the soil and deepens the seeds. After all the snow has come down, the container is put in a bag and put in the refrigerator for three weeks.

As soon as shoots appear, the soil is transferred to a well-warmed place (temperature 18-22 ° C). Water the flower very carefully, otherwise it will die. Water must be poured under the root or injected directly into the soil with a syringe. When the seedlings have a couple of leaves, they dive into individual pots - this preparatory stage before planting seedlings in the soil.

How to plant astilba in open ground

Planting a flower in open ground is carried out in late spring - early summer. It is advisable to plant a plant on the north side of the house or among trees and shrubs, where there is more shade. Some varieties adapt well to the sun - they bloom not so long, but abundantly. Planting near a reservoir or fountain will only benefit the plant.

Optimal soil parameters for growing astilba:

• Soil type - loamy.
• Acidity - pH 5.5 -6.5.
• The groundwater level is high.

The flower loves to coexist with hosts. The latter retain soil moisture and prevent it from overheating in summer.

Before planting a plant in the spring, it is necessary to carry out work to care for the site:

1. Soil excavation.
2. Removing the root system of weeds.
3. Enrichment of the site with compost, crushed peat or rotten manure. From the calculation, two buckets of fertilizer are taken per 1 square meter of beds.

Before planting a flower, holes 30x30 cm in size are dug. The interval between the holes should also be 30 cm. Half a glass of ash and one tablespoon of complex mineral fertilizer are thrown into each hole. After that, the hole must be thoroughly watered. Seedlings are planted in such a way that there is at least 5-6 cm of soil above the growth buds. The earth needs to be compacted and mulched with ground peat or humus from leaves 5 cm thick.

plant care

The flower has salient feature- the lower part of its rhizome dies off as new buds grow from above. As a result, after a certain time, the root system of the plant remains without nutrition. For this reason, the cultivation of astilbe involves mandatory hilling. Mulching is also recommended not only in spring, but also periodically during the growing season - this will protect the roots from overheating, allow moisture to linger in the soil longer, and prevent the growth of weeds. Also, it will not need to be loosened regularly.

It is also important that the soil around the flower does not dry out. The plant needs constant watering - this is a key rule that is the key to healthy development astilbe. Different kinds and plant varieties need different amount moisture. However, during the period of formation of panicles of inflorescences, astilbe, regardless of its variety, is watered abundantly daily. During the dry season, the flower is watered in the morning and evening.

In one place, astilba grows for 7 years, but with proper care and regular feeding the life of the same bush can increase up to 20 years. nitrogen fertilizers are introduced in the spring during hilling, potash in early summer (0.5 l of a solution of two tablespoons of saltpeter in a bucket of water). As soon as the bush fades, it is fertilized with phosphate fertilizers at the rate of 20 g of superphosphate per 1 plant. After all fertilizers have been applied, the soil is loosened and mulched.

In the first half of the astilba growing season, care also consists in carefully monitoring the appearance of weeds and immediately eliminating them. At the second stage of vegetation, the powerful root system of the flower drowns out the weeds, so there is no need for weeding.

Diseases and pests

Astilba care after flowering

After the astilbe flowers begin to dry out, do not rush to cut them off and throw them away - even when semi-dry, the inflorescences of the plant look very impressive, they can decorate the garden. However, at the end of the season, when the dried stems in the flower garden are removed, the astilbe flowers will also have to be cut flush with the ground, and the site itself will be mulched. Such a procedure is required if the plant was propagated by dividing the rhizome. The task of this event is the rejuvenation of astilba, since it will be difficult to separate the stiffened rhizome.

In early autumn, the root system is divided so that each piece has a young bud. If this rule is observed, the next year the transplanted and properly cared for astilba will bloom. The site needs to be mulched, and spruce branches should be put on the planted plants - it will protect the astilba from frost in winter, and in spring - from a sharp temperature drop.

The main varieties of astilba

Growing astilba is not an easy task.. This flower is quite capricious, but if it is given proper care, it will surely please the gardener with beautiful and bright panicles of flowers. Water the plant in a timely manner and monitor the rhizome - this guarantees not only healthy shoots and flowers, but also the possibility of further reproduction through vegetation.

Astilba is a herbal plant native to North America and East Asia. In nature, there are about 40 of its species, which significantly exceeds the actinidia varieties described in.

Astilba reaches a height of 100 cm, and its color varies from red to pale purple, like. Astilba is the longest-lived unpretentious plant For suburban areas and gardens: it can grow in the same place for 10 years, like.

Varieties and types of astilba

The astilba family has more than 40 species, the most popular varieties are:

• • Japanese astilba- is a low bush, reaching 80 cm, on the top of which whitish-pinkish elongated flowers bloom. Such a bush blooms all autumn and tolerates winter well. such a variety, by the way, is also found in rhododendron, about planting and caring for the Japanese variety of which read here.
  • Arendsa- a hybrid bush grown by repeatedly crossing inflorescences. The flowers are collected in panicles and have a bright red color, leaves in the form of triangles with a bronze tint. The variety is very hardy and frost-resistant. IN summer period prefers moist soil, when the soil dries out, damage to the root system and branches can occur.
  • Chinese- Also hybrid variety for which moist and fertilized soil is important. The plant grows up to 1 m in height and blooms all summer. Inflorescences have various shades and have triple leaflets.

Photo of Chinese astilba

• David- a bush with wide branches 160 cm in height, leaves - dark green, inflorescences - pink elongated, blooms all summer.
• naked- a low shrub with a thin stem 10-12 cm high. The leaves are small, pale green, blooms in the first 2 months of the summer period.
• Tunborg- a bush 70 cm high, with small leaves, flowers are white, collected in a panicle, reaches a length of 30 cm. This bush blooms from June to September.
• Korean astilba- a plant from Korea. The bush has a height of 60 cm with wide cone-shaped leaves that have a brown tint. The inflorescences are pale pink with a drooping shape and 20 cm long. It looks great in the design of the front garden in front of the house described.

Reproduction of astilba

Reproduction of astilba can be of three types:

• bush division;
• propagation by seeds, like in lilies, the planting, care and reproduction of which we considered in the material;
• reproduction through plant buds.

When propagating astilbe in your garden, the cuttings need to be planted in the ground and dug in with earth so that they do not dry out. Astilbe, planting and caring for which is illustrated by a photo of blogger gardeners and just amateurs, sits down quite easily.

The planting hole should be about 6-7 cm, on top, sprinkle the plant with a thick layer of substrate or humus by 4-5 cm. This action will keep the plant from drying out and prevent the appearance of weeds. For the first time after planting a bush in open ground inflorescences are broken off from the plant, this is necessary so that the plant takes root well, strengthens like a bush, and further promotes lush flowering.

When transplanting a plant in early March, after 4 months the bush reaches the required size for the selected variety and flowering period.

If propagated with the help of kidneys, then this should be done in the spring, at a time when the shoots on the bushes begin to bloom. It is required to carefully make an incision on the handle and sprinkle with earth, cover with polyethylene. In order for the plant to take root well, it is better to plant it first in a greenhouse. The process is similar to . Fertilizer should be exactly the same as for planting in the ground (7-10 cm layer). It will be possible to plant on the site only in a year, in the spring.

How to grow astilbe from seeds

Astilbe is usually grown from seeds for breeding purposes., since conventional cultivation from seeds leads to the death of the latter when they are planted in the ground. Or, if shoots appear, there is a risk of plant disease, after which it dries and dies.

plant grown from seed

Astilbe seeds are too small and may not always hatch. Seeds that did sprout should be shaken out of the inflorescence as soon as possible and sown in boxes or pots with soil in early spring with the addition of peat chips or mineral substrates.

The ascent of such seeds is small, parosts appear at 4 weeks after sowing. And only in a year will the leaves appear, and in another year the plant may be ready for transplanting to open area. Such a bush grown from seeds will bloom only after 3 years.

The main rule for caring for a plant is to water it on time. The slightest drying of the soil will lead to the death of the bushes, while the leaves will fall off, the flowers will decrease in size and completely dry. For these purposes, it is quite possible to use and.

Plant death can also contribute to unstable spring weather.. In order to save the plant, it is necessary to cover the bushes with a film in several layers in the spring season, and cover the root system with coniferous branches.

Every year or six months you need to feed the soil with useful mineral substrates and compost, this will help the bushes look fresh and lush.

Propagation by cuttings

Such reproduction is recommended in early spring. The gardener cuts out a regenerating bud from an astilbe along with a rhizome (half). In order not to harm the main plant, it is advisable to remove no more than 1/3 of the kidney from the mother liquor. It will be possible to root the plant only in a greenhouse.

The land in the greenhouse should be of the same composition as for planting from seeds: a mixture of gravel and peat (1: 3). In order not to completely change the ground under the astilbe, it is enough just to sprinkle the top ball of soil with peat chips (5-7 cm thick). When the astilba takes root, next spring, in a year, you can plant the plant in a permanent place.

How to separate astilba for reproduction

You need to pay attention to such points:

• each separated stem should have about 3 buds, and the length of the rhizome should be about 3-5 cm with processes of adventitious roots. Dry roots and excess leaves from the cuttings must be removed. You can plant astilbe bushes in such a division without taking into account the size of the division: both small renegades and large ones have a chance to take root well in a new place at a distance of 30 cm from each other;
• flower astilba cultivation is easier to tolerate in early spring. Astilba has every chance to bloom by autumn. If the plant has already been adopted (for example, in a greenhouse), and there is a need to transplant it to another place (on open ground in a flower bed), then transplantation can occur at any time, except for winter, with the condition good watering during the first days of transplantation;
• bushes that are sold on the market already with flowers to demonstrate the goods, the seller separated in this way. This is convenient because the gardener can immediately buy what he needs - color, variety, size of inflorescences. The bush, with proper handling, will certainly take root, being divided even when flowering.

soil for astilba

Land for this plant - important factor for getting used to a new landing site and a guarantee of the splendor and beauty of its flowering. In addition to the very composition of the soil, astilba also needs to choose a place “under the sun” or in the shade (depending on the variety), surrounded.

Astilba can grow on any soil, but plentiful lush bloom and the plant will have a strong stem if planted on soils with high level groundwater flow. The most undesirable for the plant is dry or quickly drying soils.

What is important for astilbe soil:

• the presence of phosphorus and potassium in the mineral composition of the soil (at least in top layer soil);
• before planting in the beds, the holes must be fertilized with complex fertilizers (no more than 30 g) and bone meal (2 handfuls). If sowing or planting cuttings will take place in a flower pit, then this 30 cm deepening must also be fertilized with flour and nutrients(you can replace them with humus). The mixture of fertilizers must be mixed with soil and water. Rhizomes and cuttings should be sprinkled with mulch before planting.

Planting Rules

Planting plants in flower beds and front gardens should be carried out in early spring and until May, but astilbe takes root well at other times (for example, if you buy it in the summer). The main thing is humidity (for active growth) and heat.

Astilbe sits next to each other no closer than 30-50 cm, so that the plant has its own space for development. It can be planted both in furrows and in ridges with an interval between rows of 1 m. Feeding and fertilized soil are very important for the plant before planting. Fertilizer is well suited for flowering ornamental perennials Kemira-Horti-2, but other types can be taken complex fertilizers. It is important that the nitrogen content in them does not exceed 10%.

Video instruction for planting flowers

Video on how to plant astilba in a summer cottage with your own hands.

Rules for the care of astilba

Astilba blooms gratefully if done regularly every year soil fertilization. This is easy to do with the introduction of compost, complex fertilizers, and peat into the soil. Phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are well suited.

Old bushes that are 5 or more years old do not have to be thrown away, just cut off unnecessary branches at the root and dust the cut with ash, add soil and water.

Astilba is a decorative perennial with bright inflorescences in the form of elongated candles or fluffy twigs. In addition to the beauty of flowering, astilba allows you to qualitatively plant a flower garden, flower beds. Grows well both singly and in group planting. Resistant to our frosts and climate conditions, but requires shelter in the spring with temperature changes.

well maintained mature plant on the picture