Astilbe chinensis Darwins SurpriseChinese astilbe
科:虎耳草科
Family:Saxifragaceae
属:落新妇属
common name:Chinese astilbe
introduce:Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Saxifragaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: 0.75 to 1 foot
Spread: 0.75 to 1 foot
Bloom Time: July - August
Bloom Color: Pink
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium moisture
Maintenance: Medium
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Prefers moist, humusy, organically rich soils. Soils should not be allowed to dry out. This species has better sun and drought tolerance than most other astilbe species and hybrids, however. Removing faded flower stalks will not prolong bloom, but may improve plant appearance, particularly if a ground cover look is desired. On the other hand, many gardeners leave the flower stalks in place after bloom because of the continuing ornamental interest of the dried seed heads.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Astilbes are a mainstay of shade gardens. This Chinese astilbe cultivar is a compact, horizontally-branching, stoloniferous perennial which slowly spreads to form an attractive ground cover of 2-3 ternately compound leaves with deep green, toothed, elliptic-oval leaflets. Foliage forms a mound 4-6?off the ground. If regularly watered, foliage will remain green throughout the growing season. Erect, narrow plumes (panicles) of tiny, densely-clustered, pink flowers appear on stiff, upright stems which rise above the foliage mound to 12?tall in late spring to early summer.
No serious insect or disease problems. Leaves may brown in periods of drought where soils are not kept moist.
Uses:
Mass or group in shade gardens, woodland gardens and shaded areas of border fronts and rock gardens. Also an excellent ground cover for shady areas. Edging.
