Astilbe chinensis VisionsChinese 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: 1 to 1.5 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: July - August
Bloom Color: Pink
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium moisture
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Prefers moist, humusy, organically rich soils. Soils must not be allowed to dry out. If regularly watered, foliage will usually remain attractive throughout the growing season. A summer compost mulch helps retain soil moisture. Chinese astilbes are generally noted, however, for having better sun and drought tolerance than other species of astilbe. 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. Divide clumps when overcrowding occurs (every 3-4 years).
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Astilbes are mainstays of shade and woodland gardens. They are clump-forming perennials which feature graceful, fern-like mounds of mostly basal, 2-3 ternately compound leaves, usually with sharply-toothed leaflets, and tiny flowers densely packed into erect to arching, plume-like flower panicles rising above the foliage on slender, upright stems. Chinese astilbes are slowly spreading, rhizomatous plants which bloom later than the x arendsii hybrids and generally feature hairy, biserrate, elliptic-oval, 3-ternate leaflets. 慥isions?is a compact cultivar which features a foliage mound (to 9?tall) of bronze-green leaves and thick panicles of raspberry flowers on 12-15?tall stems in late spring to early summer.
No serious insect or disease problems. Foliage decline (leaves brown up) may occur in hot summers and/or periods of drought if soils are not kept moist. Although Chinese astilbes have better drought tolerance than most other astilbes, they still do best with uniformly moist soils.
Uses:
Mass or group in shade gardens, woodland gardens and shaded areas of border fronts or cottage gardens. Excellent spreading ground cover or edging plant for shady areas. Also effective on pond or stream banks.
