Japanese astilba

Japanese Astilba is a perennial herb, characterized by a compact or spreading bush, depending on the species. The native land 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 Astilba is explained by its peculiarity to grow in darkened, humid places where other crops cannot develop, and at the same time bloom luxuriantly and continuously.

Japanese astilba

This culture belongs to the Saxifrage family. The plant got its name because of the matte surface of the leaves, as "a" and "stilbe" in translation means "without shine".

Japanese astilba is widely used for landscaping household plots

Culture was brought to European countries 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 aboveground part is updated annually. With the arrival of spring, the growth of shoots is activated, the height of which can reach 30-80 cm, depending on the variety and type of Japanese astilba.

The leaves of the culture are located on long petioles. Plates are double or triple pinnate with a serrated edge. Their color can range from greenish red to dark green.

The underground part is a rhizome, on top of which renewal buds are located. The peculiarity of the development of Japanese astilba is that there is a gradual dying off of the lower part of the root, and instead new shoots with a length of 3-5 cm grow from above.Therefore, in the fall, it is necessary to sprinkle the plant at the base in order to maintain a young growth.

The plant forms small openwork flowers, which are collected in rhombic paniculate inflorescences. 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.

Varieties and types of Japanese astilba

Thanks to the efforts of breeders, many species and varieties of Japanese astilba have been bred. This allows you to create compositions from several plants with different shades and heights of 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. At the same time, many of them can fully develop and bloom for a long time in areas with a close occurrence of groundwater.

Astilba white

This species is distinguished by white paniculate inflorescences. 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 temperatures as low as -37 degrees.

Flowering occurs in mid-June and lasts 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 is necessary.

Astilba white

Astilba Sister Teresa

This variety is compact. It reaches a height and width of 60 cm. The paniculate inflorescences of the plant have a pale pink hue 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 shiny, delicate, rich green hue. The form is complex, tripartite. The variety prefers to grow in partial shade. Resistant to low temperatures, undemanding to the care and composition of the soil.

Astilba Sister Teresa

Astilba Arends Amethyst

This species is a hybrid. Forms a spreading bush up to 80 cm high. The shade of the leaves is yellowish-green, light. Forms paniculate inflorescences of light lilac color. Their length is 30 cm, and their diameter is within 7-10 cm.

Flowering occurs in the first half of July and lasts 25-30 days. This variety prefers to grow on loams with a low acidity level. 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 type of culture is a hybrid. It is characterized by a compact form of a bush, the height of which is 50 cm. It forms erect, strong peduncles 90 cm high. Leaves are dark green with a reddish tint.

The inflorescences of astilba Gloria Purpurea are lush, pink in color with an ash-purple tint. They reach 20 cm in length and 10 cm in width.

This hybrid blooms in the second half of July and lasts 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 strongly dissected, fringed. They are much tougher to the touch than other species. The plates are dark green saturated color.

The inflorescences are lush, graceful, 15 cm long. The shape is rhombic. Their shade is pale pink.

Astilba Curly

Astilba Chocolate Shogun

A new crop variety characterized by a rich chocolate-violet shade of glossy leaves. It is distinguished by high decorative qualities, since this color remains throughout the season.

The plant reaches a height of 50-60 cm and a width of 40-50 cm. Inflorescences of a creamy pink shade, 20-25 cm long.

Astilba 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 noticeably from the rest. He is able to change the shade of the 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 edging along the edge.

During the flowering period, the leaves darken significantly. They take on a lime color along the edge, and in the middle of the plate they become light cream. Inflorescences change their color from light to dark lilac.

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, deep green in color. To match them, the plant forms burgundy inflorescences. 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 early 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 is distinguished by thick, fluffy inflorescences of a maroon hue. Their length is 25 cm, and their diameter is 10-12 cm. The leaves are openwork, green in color. Flowering begins in July and lasts more than 4 weeks.

Astilba Brautschleier

This type of culture forms bushes 70-80 cm high. In appearance, Brautschleier is in many ways similar to the Washington variety. The leaves are openwork, brownish-green. Inflorescences are loose, slightly drooping, up to 30 cm long. Their shade is white-cream.

Astilba Brautschleier's flowering period begins in July. Its duration is 16-18 days. Recommended to grow in partial shade.

Astilba Brautschleier

Astilba Arends Fanal

This variety is fast growing. Forms a spreading bush 60 cm high and up to 80 cm in diameter. The subspecies is part of the Arends hybrid group. Forms a powerful woody rhizome. Stems and petioles are reddish.

The leaves are complex in shape, when blooming, they are red-brown in color, and in the process of growth they turn green. The inflorescences are lush, dense. They are 25 cm long and 8 cm wide. The flowering period begins at the end of June and lasts 3-4 weeks.

Astilba Pumila

This variety is compact in size. The height of the plant reaches 50 cm, and the width is 60 cm. The foliage, when blooming, has a light green color, and subsequently darkens. The edges of the plates are serrated. In an adult plant, leaves are thick, 25-30 cm high.

The flowers are collected in large inflorescences, initially they have a bright purple color, like the Elizabeth Van Win variety, and then they fade slightly and become ash pink.

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 panicle inflorescences of a pale pink hue, but at the end they fade slightly and become creamy. Their length ranges from 10-15 cm.

The leaves of Astilba Europa 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 with a spreading bush. Its height is 70-80 cm. Rhombic inflorescences of light purple hue.

America blooms in July and lasts 18 days.

This variety is resistant to diseases and can withstand frosts down to -34 degrees.

Astilba Japanese Montgomery

This type is especially popular with flower growers. Forms compact bushes, reaching a height of 60-70 cm and a width of 40-50 cm. Glossy leaves are small in size with an interesting openwork pattern.

The inflorescences of the Japanese Montgomery Astilba are dense, bright red. Medium-late variety, blooms in the second half of July. 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 plant in partial shade. But if necessary, it can grow in open areas with regular watering.

Astilba Japanese Peach Blossom

Astilba Japanese Mainz

Miniature form of culture.Plant height does not exceed 40-50 cm. Leaves have a deep green shade. Flowers are bright lilac in color, collected in inflorescences 10-15 cm long.

This variety is recommended for ridges and borders located in shady corners of the garden. The plant grows well under trees and near water bodies. Flowering begins in July and lasts until early August.

Astilba Japanese Bonn

According to the description, this variety is distinguished by fluffy bright red inflorescences 20 cm long. Their shape is conical. The bush is compact, 60 cm high. The leaves are carved, brown-green in color.

This variety goes well with light species, forming a contrasting composition. Shows the highest decorative qualities when grown in moist nutrient soil, even in an open sunny area. The variety is highly frost-resistant, does not need shelter for the winter.

Japanese Astilba includes a wide variety of varieties and hybrid forms. But, despite this, all plants are undemanding to care. Also, the culture is easily propagated by dividing 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 bud of renewal and a small process of the root. The main thing is to constantly keep the soil moist.