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Planting and Growing Astilbes

Astilbe plant with pink feathery plumes of flowers growing in the garden

Image Credit:
J. Kumpinovica/Shutterstock
Botanical Name
Astilbe
Grown as
Perennial
USDA Zones
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun
Partial Shade
Shade
Water Needs
Moderate
Height
1–3 feet
Spread
1–3 feet
Soil pH
Neutral
Bloom Time
Spring
Summer
Flower Color
Pink
Red
White
Special Features
Container-Friendly
Cut Flower
Disease-Resistant
Low Maintenance
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Pollinators
Deer-resistant
Rabbit-resistant
Resilience
Clay Soil Tolerant
Cold Hardy
Plant Type
Flowers
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Meet astilbe—a shade garden favorite, with colorful plume-like blooms, ferny foliage, and a hardy disposition that’s sure to make this easy-going perennial your newest feathery friend. 

If you’re looking for a deer-proof plant with a long bloom time and tolerance for moisture, shade, and cold, here’s what makes astilbes stand out and how to keep these plants in flower beds, garden borders, or containers!

Planting

When to Plant Astilbe

Most growers cultivate astilbe from nursery starts, which are best planted in spring or fall. Growing these plants from seed can be tricky, but you can also produce new astilbe from dividing established plants in early spring.

Multicolored astilbe plants in garden
Astilbes come in many beautiful colors!
Photo: znmysteryPhoto

Where to Plant Astilbe

Astilbes prefer light to moderate shade, while deep shade can reduce flowering and full sun may burn the plant’s tender leaves. Although astilbes love moist, damp soil, they still need proper drainage and should not be grown in areas where water puddles for long periods of time. For optimal growth, amend the soil with compost or aged manure before planting astilbes to boost soil nutrient levels and improve drainage too.

If desired, you can also grow astilbes in well-draining pots that are at least 16 inches wide, or plant them in garden borders or use them as a flowering ground cover.

How to Plant Astilbe

Plant nursery starts about 1 to 3 feet apart, depending on the variety. To plant, loosen the soil to about 10 to 12 inches deep with your shovel, mix in a touch of compost, set the plant’s crown (where the roots and stems connect) just below the soil line, backfill the hole with soil, and water well.

If you’re growing bare-root plants instead, dig a hole that’s twice as wide as the plants’ roots and 4 to 6 inches deep. Place the plant so the roots are fanned out slightly and pointing downwards with the crown located 1 to 2 inches below the soil line, then cover the roots with soil, press firmly, and water your new astilbes in.

Growing

Watering 

Astilbes grow best when their soil is kept evenly moist. During dry spells, water these plants deeply at the soil line.

Fertilizing

Producing big blooms takes energy and astilbes tend to be heavy feeders. To boost flowering, fertilize these plants twice a year in spring and fall with a balanced, organic liquid or granular fertilizer.

Pruning or Maintenance

Astilbes are rather slow to establish but spread quickly once their roots settle and form broad clumps of plants with crowns that rise about the soil over time. To keep astilbes healthy, re-cover the crowns as needed with fresh soil or compost and divide the plants every 3 to 4 years in spring. These plants don’t need much pruning and won’t reflower with deadheading, but you can freshen their look by clipping off spent flowers when they begin to fade.

Seasonal Care

Hardy to Zone 3, astilbes don’t need much winter management, but their leaves may turn yellow at the first frost. If desired, you can clip the leaves away when they do, or leave them as-is. Plants in the garden will benefit from a light layer of mulch applied in fall, while container-grown plants may need their pots to be buried in the garden or protected with frost blankets to ensure the containers don’t break.

Harvesting

When to Harvest

Astilbes look beautiful in cut fllower arrangements and blooms can be harvested as soon as they unfurl in all their beauty!

How to Harvest

To harvest astilbe blooms or leaves, simply clip them off with sharp, sterilized pruners or scissors. Just avoid harvesting more than 1/3 of your plant’s stems or flowers at once to prevent stress.

Storage

Astilbe flowers typically last in a vase for about 4 to 12 days, but they also dry beautifully.

Pests and Problems

As perennials go, astilbe are tough as nails plants that tend to naturally resist deer and rabbit damage. But even these sturdy flowers can suffer from a few common issues.

Common Problems

  • Yellow leaves may occur if astilbes receive too much sun, or if they’re over- or underwatered. If the leaves yellow towards the top of the plant, sun-scorch is most likely. Consistent yellowing usually indicates a watering issue, which you can confirm by feeling the soil.
  • Reduced flowering may result if astilbes are underfertilized or overcrowded. To avoid this fate, fertilize astilbes regularly and divide plants every 3 to 4 years.
  • Wilting usually indicates that astilbes need more water, but plants may wilt in overly wet conditions if their roots begin to rot due to excess moisture.

Common Pests

  • Asiatic garden beetles are small, 1/3-inch long brownish beetles that may chew holes in astilbe leaves. These pests can be dislodged with your garden hose or managed with companion planting and organic insecticidal soap sprays.
  • Weevils sometimes nibble on astilbe roots, which can lead to wilting and plant death. Beneficial nematodes can be used to treat these pests, but you can also avoid reoccurrences by growing astilbes in containers with fresh soil.
  • Nematodes aren’t always the “good guys” and some destructive nematodes can cause leaf discoloration in astilbes. Severe cases are usually not fixable and it’s best to destroy affected plants.

Plant diseases

  • Powdery mildew can set in if astilbes are grown in areas with poor air flow and watered from the top down. The best way to prevent this issue is to space astilbes out properly, ensure they get enough sun, and water plants at the soil line.
  • Other diseases, like fusarium wilt and leaf spot can affect astilbes too. These issues can sometimes be prevented or reversed by destroying infected plant material in fall and adding mulch to reduce soil splashing, but severe cases may require plants to be destroyed.

Types

Popular astilbe hybrids include …

  • ‘Fanal’ boasts dark green foliage, dark crimson flowers, and grows to about 1½ feet tall.
  • ‘Irrlicht’ enchants with dark green foliage, elegant white flowers, and a maximum height of up to 2 feet tall.
  • ‘Visions’ is a particularly drought-tolerant option with strong stems, green leaves, and thick raspberry-hued flowers.

Wit and Wisdom

  • Astilbe plants were first popularized in Japan in the 1800s.
  • The first cultivated astilbes were developed to produce forced blooms in winter and were intended to be grown indoors.
  • According to the language of flowers, astilbes symbolize patience, devotion, and the message: “I will wait for you.”

Flowers
Shade Gardening

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening, so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana.

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>Tiff</span> Sun, 03/05/2017 - 04:04
Many inconsistencies between the article (slightly acidic soil) and comment replies (alkaline soil). I'd really like to find some experts and good information, but can't find it on your site. Can you please explain?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 03/09/2017 - 10:21

Depending on general soil conditions, there can be a fine line between slightly acidic and alkaline—and "expert" sources provide differing information and many do not even address the matter. Here's Cornell University's page ( a generally reliable source) on hybrid astilbe > http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene4f95.html and here's their page on the Chinese astilbe > http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scenecea9.html . Here's yet another (different source): http://hvp.osu.edu/pocketgardener/source/description/astilbe.html

A pH chart from Sonoma.edu cites "many species" of Astilbe and gives them a 6.0 to 8.0 pH range. Six is on the edge of acidic and 8 and running sweet, or alkaline.: https://www.sonoma.edu/users/s/shawth/pH%20Preferences 

Here is one more, from the University of Minnesota coop extension that puts astilbe on its "Alkaline Soil" page, with a note (on the right) that "This list includes some of the best plants for soils with a pH of 7.0 to 8.0." ...some of the best plants...

We are not singling out these sites out for criticism, only citing them to explain the challenge, with this plant in particular. Thanks for asking.

 <span>Margaret Barrett</span> Sun, 10/23/2016 - 06:05
you say that astilbes like slightly below average moisture, but regularly check to see they are moist. A bit confusing.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 10/25/2016 - 13:12

Sorry for any confusion. The idea is to hold back on water to prevent them from having "wet feet" but to make sure they don't completely dry out. A nice even moisture temperature is best--not too wet, not too dry. (When planted in the sun, without adequate water, they are susceptible to burning.)

 <span>Ann Marie</span> Sat, 08/27/2016 - 16:50
I purchased 2 astilbe plants this summer and they appear to be dead. Leaves and flowers are all brown. I was hoping to move them to a different area of my garden where I am hoping they will do better. Should I cut them back or just replant them as they are without cutting them back. Thank you for your help.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 08/29/2016 - 12:31

Hi Ann Marie,

If the foliage was still healthy, it would be best to leave it on when transplanting. But because it is dead and no longer photosynthesizing, you can cut it back. Once you dig them, you should be able to tell by the roots if they are still viable plants.

 <span>Maria Owen</span> Sat, 07/09/2016 - 16:57
I have a large Astilbe in a wooden container & one day of very hot sunshine, the front leaves are all withered, please advise me what to do to save it. Would it grow better in the ground. Many thanks
<span>Jackie</span> Sat, 07/09/2016 - 06:47
My blooms have bloomed and are now Brown. Do I cut these off? Will they bloom all summer?
<span>Jenna</span> Tue, 07/05/2016 - 17:06
I just got a astilbe plant from one of my friends two weeks ago. As soon as I got it I planted it and watered it two times a day some times more and it looks dead. I have not pulled it up yet but, this it the first time I had an astilbe so I don't know if I should treat it different or get a new one.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 07/11/2016 - 16:06

These are classified as "moderately difficult" plants in some circles. Astilbes like water, and it appears you have been giving it enough. But too much? Is it draining? Draining is critical, and a too-small container, or poor soil, may be leaving the roots in a puddle.

Astilbes like direct (but not blazing) sun with all that water but prefer shade and a bit less water in that environment. Is your plant indoors or outdoors? Does any of this sound familiar?

Here's another thing: they prefer a slightly alkaline (high) pH soil. Do you have any idea of your soil pH? Amd is it rich with organic matter? Potting soil is probably too "thin" by itself. Peat, compost, and organic matter are essential.

Are you beginning to see how it earned its ranking? Another thing: is your container large? or is it a tight-ish fit? If you start again, consider a large-ish container in some sunlight with lots of good soil. 

We really hope this helps. Astilbes are beautiful but a tad finicky.