Astilbe chinensis at Kingwood Center, Mansfield, Ohio

Astilbes (also called “false spireas”) are favorite late spring flowering perennials.  The Astilbe x arendsii hybrids from Germany are most popular and available at local garden centers. Astilbes are very hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7).

If low maintenance is your goal, try Chinese astilbe (Astilbe chinensis var tacquetii). Their care is less demanding than the Arendsii hybrids. Chinese astilbes bloom nearly two weeks later. Group many together for mass effect of plume flowers and dense compound foliage.

The ‘Visions’ series are personal favorites. The original ‘Visions’ bears raspberry plume flowers. Later cultivars, ‘Visions in Red’ and ‘Visions in Pink’, are also nice. Plants form a 9- inch tall mound with bronze-green leaves and dense panicles of raspberry colored flowers on 12-15” tall stems.

‘Pumila’ forms a thick ground cover with 8-12 inch tall lavender purple flowers in mid- summer. ‘Superba’ is a taller flowering form and more available in nursery commerce.

Chinese astilbes grow in moist, well drained soils and partial sunlight. Two –year old established plants are exceptionally drought tolerant, have no serious disease or pest problems, and are generally not a favorite of deer.