How to Grow Astilbe for Color in the Shade Garden

It took me far too long to discover the beauty and special quality of the shade garden. Since I’ve always been into those tough, hard-scrabble plants that eke out a living in any condition, the idea of a garden full of particular and at times sensitive plants was not of interest to me.

But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve discovered a keen appreciation for these gardens and the plants that call them home.

Perennials like heuchera and painted ferns opened up a previously unappreciated collection of foliar colors, while flashy and bright annuals like torenia added lovely splashes of color.

Of all the plants in the shade garden that earned my affection and appreciation, the astilbe (A. x arendsii) comes in at the top of the list.

The foliage itself is interesting and worthwhile, but it’s the large flowers that really make them sing. As an added bonus, they seem to enjoy being placed in a wet corner of the yard – what more could we ask for in a shade perennial?

We’ve prepared a helpful and informative overview of growing, establishing, and maintaining astilbe. We’ll also take a look at some nice cultivars that you can add to your own garden. Keep on reading to delve into awesome A. x arendsii!

If you aren’t already familiar with this lovely perennial, it’s time for some introductions:

A flowering perennial that reaches heights ranging from one to six feet, astilbe spreads via underground rhizomes.

It’s a relatively slow-growing perennial that will fill in a space that you’ve chosen for it nicely, when given enough time. For the gardener who wants to see results sooner than later, it is suggested that you purchase some container plants from