Common Name: astilbe
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Saxifragaceae
Zone: 4 to 9
Height: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Bloom Description: Pale peach-pink
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy, Good Cut
Tolerate: Rabbit, Deer, Heavy Shade, Black Walnut
Culture
Easily grown in average, medium, 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. 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
Astilbe × rosea are hybrid, clump-forming astilbes 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.
Genus name comes from the Greek words a meaning without and stilbe meaning brightness in reference to the dull leaves of some species.
Specific epithet means rose-like.
‘Peach Blossom’ is a hybrid which is sometimes listed as an A. japonica cultivar and sometimes as an A. × rosea cultivar. It features a foliage mound (to 18” tall) of rich, medium green leaves and wide panicles of peach-pink flowers atop stems typically rising to 24” tall in late spring.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Foliage decline (leaf margins brown up), sometimes with significant dieback, may occur in hot summers and/or periods of drought if soils are not kept moist.
Uses
Mass or group in shade gardens, woodland gardens and shaded areas of border fronts or cottage gardens. Excellent large ground cover or edging plant for shady areas. Also effective on pond or stream banks.