'Dragon's Lair' Astilbe
Perennial
- Red buds open to deep pink flowers in the summer!
- Glossy purple/black foliage from spring to fall.
- Low-maintenance perennial great for cutting arrangements.
- Deer & rabbit-resistant perennial for sun or shade.
- Zones 4-9, sun/part sun/shade, 26" tall and 18-24" wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Common name: False Spirea, Chinese astilbe, astilbe
Zone: 4-9
Sun exposure:Full sun (>6 hrs sun/day) to part sun (4-6 hrs sun/day) to shade (<4 hrs sun/day).
Height x width: 26" x 18-24"
Flower color: Pink, purple
Foliage color: Black, purple, burgundy
Season of Interest: Spring to early fall
Bloom time: Midsummer
Features: Cut flower, pollinator-friendly, winter interest, wet soils, rabbit-resistant, heat-tolerant, deer-resistant
Uses: Accent, border, container gardening, cottage gardening, edging, ground cover, massing, naturalizing, rain garden, underplanting, waterside, woodland
How to Grow
Light: Sun (>6 hrs sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun) to shade (< 4 hours sun). Part sun environments are ideal. For astilbe growing in full sun, ensure soil stays consistently moist to avoid scorching.
Water: Likes soil consistently moist. Adding mulch can help retain soil moisture.
Spacing: Minimum 18-24" apart.
Fertilizing: Astilbe is a heavy feeder that requires lots of nutrients. Fertilize early in the spring with a 5-10-5 fertilizer blend to produce healthy flowers. After it has bloomed, apply an additional handful of fertilizer around the plant's base.
Winterizing: No specific care is needed. Foliage dies back in winter and can be cleared away in early spring before the plant sends up new shoots.
Maintenance & pruning: No deadheading is required unless you don't like the appearance of spent blooms. If left on, they provide winter interest to the garden. Divide the roots of the plant in early spring or late fall when the plant is dormant.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.