Are your astilbes blooming?

Mine are just beginning but I thought that it would be fun to share them with each other.

Hi, doss - they're just beginning - I'll get some pics tomorrow - Dax

Oh, good. I'll look forward to it. Nothing flowers in the dark like astilbe, don't you think?

The astilbes just started blooming here in western NC. I just planted them this February, so I'm delighted!

They take off pretty fast, don't they?

Hi doss - well, I asked for rain in another thread yesterday, and today we got it - been a soaking rain ALL day. It's great for the plants, but haven't been able to get any pics of the astilbes. I'll try again tomorrow. I'll bet they will just explode after this drink of water - Dax

Mine are blooming in one shade garden -- in front of my house next to the garage. In a backyard shade garden they haven't even started to bud yet. I have some Astilbe Vision that I just planted in a third garden this year and they look like they are about to bloom. This is the third year for those in this picture.

These were new last year. I think they are Peach Blossom.

I love the heuchera with them in the second photo - and of course the hostas in the first photo are wonderful. They are such a nice texture comparison to so many larged leaf woodland plants, don't you think?

WOW!! I just planted some astilbe I bought mail order so I won't see them bloom this year but your pictures have me droolig for next year already! Gorgeous!

I finally snapped some pics this morning. I moved this Astilbe a couple of weeks ago, but it looks like she is going to enjoy her new home.

Betty

That looks like one very happy astilbe! I agree, Doss, I like astilbe as a contrast in texture and form to the broader leafed plants like hosta and heuchera. I also love the long lasting blooms that are different from any of the other shade loving plants and they last a very long time. Even when they are "over" the stems and remaining heads add interest. One of my favorite shade plants!

Wow Betty. Those are some really bright astilbe. Love the birdbath in the background of the photo.
And nutmeg is right. Pegz is going to love her astilbes. :-)

You guys have me so excited!! This is my first year planting so I will be a basket case unitl I can see stuff really happen next year. I already think I need more astilbe...

Park seed is having a 40% off special for today
http://www.parkseed.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10101&catalogId=10101&mainPage=gatepage&RequestType=PageNumRequest&PageNumber=3&ListType=GPValuePerennials&ListLocation=Main&gate=GPValuePerennialsFP&next.x=33&next.y=6

Yay! I got a few today so here goes - should be much more showy in another week of two so this is just the first installment - I love them!

#1 - Red in the hosta -

#2 - Pink with the hydrangea - both should be blooming in another week -

#3 - A miniature fern astilbe with miniature hosta -

#4 - A white astilbe - not all blooming yet -

#5 - and these five will be lovely when they are all blooming in another week or so - there should be lavender, white, and pink in this group -

Will update when they are luminescent!

Dax

Your gardens are always so lovely Dax. You have a talent for using the different astilbes right where they belong. I love the 'fern' ones next to the miniature hostas. And that must be a very miniature hydrangea. Yes?

Dax - Do you know the variety or the source for the "miniature" astilbe? I seem to be collecting mini hostas and I would love to get some of those, too.

Thanks.

Sherry

Hi Doss and Sherry - Thanks for the kind words. First - doss, the hydrangea is a standard, BUT it is in 100% shade and so does not grow very large. It's interesting because it has been growing there for about 15 years, and never gets bigger than that. About 3 years ago I tried to move it when I learned it should have more sun (DUH!), but when I tried to dig it up, it basically refused to move!! The roots just would not let go and so I just left it. It didn't bloom at all for about 5 years, and now it has more blooms each year - just smaller.

Hi Sherry - my favorite place for astilbes is a nursery called Crownsville Nursery. They are online and are listed in the Garden Watchdog. If you go there and look under astilbes, the second half of the list are dwarfs and miniatures. That's where I got these, but they have a number of varieties, and they send healthy, large plants. I have never been disappointed. The fern leaf should be there. Have fun!

Dax (Becki)

Thanks, Becki - I'll have to check that out. I also order from Crownsville and they really have great plants. That's where I got the Astilbe VIsion I added this year. I guess I'll need to scroll down a little further. I have ordered from them for several years and their shipments are always first rate. I usually check there first if I am looking for some specific plant because I know that, if they have it, the best quality will come from them. Their sister company, Bridgewood Gardens, is a great source for hosta also.

Thanks again,

Sherry

I'm a little embarrassed. I order from bloomingbulb at their sale in the spring. Can't beat $2.50 and I've never had one not come up. If you want customer service though I don't think that it exists there. And they have quite a range.

Hi doss - Embarrassed? You've made my day - at $2.50, it can't be beat, as long as they are dependable. Are the plants a decent size? I love both Crownsville and Bridgewood Gardens, but usually wait for their sales. Plus, I've just retired, and so now am on a fixed income - so THANKS!! Dax

Yes, they come bare root but large. All have bloomed the first year. Bloomingbulb has a hit and miss reputation in the Plantfiles.

Hope that you're enjoying your retirement.

They are taking orders for fall shipping and even so are less than half of Crownsville.
http://www.bloomingbulb.com/XQ/ASP/Category.32/QX/CartBulbs.htm

Picabo/Betty

What is the name of the astilbe in your pic? Is that Pumilla?

I kept thinking that I need to post that name. LOL It is:

"Visions in Red" It has been my best blooming astilbe for years. It seems to stay looking good a lot longer than the pink shades.

Betty

That one is really beautiful, Betty. Have you ever tried astilbe in containers? I'm wondering if they would be happy with hosta in a container, wintered over in my garage. I've done it with hosta for several years -- they do fine but don't get as large as in the garden. I'm wondering if astilbe will winter over that way, too.

I don't see why they wouldn't over winter in containers. Seems like I have had some potted that I didn't get in the ground until spring.

I think that I killed one of my pretty ones last week. It had gotten so big I decided to move it and divide into 4 clumps. They really look bad. I need to cut them way back tomorrow. They are so tough I usually can't kill them. The one that I was moving was a pale lavender. I would hate to lose all of it.

Betty

Ouch! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. I've planted two lavenders but haven't had any luck with them blooming yet. Here's hoping yours made the move. Don't know if you have had as much dry weather as we have had this spring but I've had to do lots of watering to try to keep my newbies going. I'm getting some mini hostas that I want to put into containers. I think maybe I'll try astilbe with them and see what happens over the winter. I'm guessing they need somewhat the same dormancy period.

I moved three of mine recently and they had huge dieback but they have come back. I think that you're supposed to divide them in the fall. But evidently they can die all the way back and come back the next spring.

We have had Too much rain. Until the day I moved them then it all stopped. I really don't think they are dead, just really feel bad. I need to move several more, I think I'll wait until fall.

All you can do is hope that they are OK. I've never divided them before.

Very pretty pictures. I am really looking forward to mine blooming...we put some in along the side of the house last July while they were blooming in their nursery pots, and they "died" almost right away. They are bushy and healthy looking right now. I planted some Bridal Veil ones in the new shade bed, and those are gearing up to bloom , as well....I will post some pics as soon as they do their thing.

I love astilbes. Unfortunately, for some odd reason, they are my dog's favorite plant to pee on. Grrr!

This message was edited Jun 12, 2006 9:18 PM

Oh no. Plant pee posts! That's why I have girl dogs and no lawn to speak of. Solves a myriad of problems. Of course you can't go trading in your dog right away. :-)

Glad to know that yours came back.

Doss, someone told me that it's the urine of female dogs that causes those unsightly spots on the lawn. I will say that I don't have a problem with that with my boys...but then, I think I told you what an eyesore my lawn is in the first place. The pee most definitely affects the astilbe foliage. Can't figure out if it's a good thing that he singles out one type of plant...better to pee on one, than pee on all? At least he's a small dog and can't aim high enough to get the flowers! The astilbes along the house are purpley pink....can't remember what the name of that one is.

I don't have a lawn and haven't for years so I don't have to worry about that. And the dogs are small and polite and walk/run around my plants.

Sorry about your astilbe foliage though. It's so beautiful.

how long do astilbes bloom?