Color Flash® Astilbe
Perennial
- Color-changing foliage looks different every season!
- Soft pink flowers bloom above the foliage in summer.
- Deer-resistant, pollinator-friendly, and low maintenance.
- Zones 4-8, part sun to shade, 18" tall and 18" wide at maturity
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Astilbes pair perfectly with coral bells and hostas in shade gardens, where they attract pollinators and deter deer. While they can grow in full shade, they produce more blooms in light shade or filtered sun. While they're easy to grow, the key to success is keeping them moist (or even wet), especially in full sun. If you notice your plants are developing brown edges, it's time to crank up the sprinkler. Deadhead your plants for a tidy appearance, or skip sheering to enjoy textured spent flowers through winter!
Details
Patent #: USPP 17,343
Common name: False Spirea
Zone: 4 - 8
Sun exposure: Shade (< 4 hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun)
Height x width: 10-18" x 18"
Flower color: Pink
Foliage color: Green, red, orange, yellow
Season of interest: Summer
Bloom time: Early summer
Features: Winter interest, wet soil, rabbit resistant, low flammability, heat tolerant, ground covers, deer resistant, container plants, cold tolerant
Uses: Accent, border, container gardening, cottage gardening, edging, ground cover, massing, naturalizing, rain garden, under planting, waterside, woodland
How to Grow
Light: Part-sun (4-6 hours sun) to shade (< 4 hours sun)
Water: Likes soil consistently moist. Adding mulch can help retain soil moisture.
Spacing: 18-24 inches
Fertilizing: Astilbe is a heavy feeder that requires lots of nutrients. Fertilize early in the spring to produce healthy flowers with a 5-10-5 fertilizer blend. 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.
These plants arrived in good condition. One was a little sad but that is because of the delivery. It is recovering and adjusting to our hot summer.
Transplanted them a week after arrival and all are doing well.
This was my first time ordering from this company, and the overall purchase process was excellent. The website was incredibly easy to navigate, and the ordering seamless. I also really appreciated their customer communication—they provided helpful contact points and updates without being annoying or overwhelming.
I placed a medium-sized order, and everything arrived wonderfully and securely packaged.
The reason for the 3-star rating is that I didn't get the exact item I ordered. The "Color Flash Astilbe" I purchased turned out to be a Goatsbeard. When I planted it next to my other astilbes, it clearly looked like the odd man out. Once I figured out what it was, I moved it to a different location, and it is now doing very well.
While this was the only mix-up in my order, it was a bit disappointing not to get the variety I planned for. However, because their packaging and system are so efficient, I would still buy from them again. Next time, I’ll just be sure to reach out immediately if I suspect a mix-up so the order can be corrected.
A great company for service and care, just be sure to double-check your plant varieties!
Hi Lou, thank you for sharing your detailed feedback. We're glad to hear you appreciated our process and packaging, and we apologize for the mix-up and any confusion this may have caused. We would love to correct this mistake as soon as possible. Please contact [email protected] with your order number and photos of your plants so we may better assist you. We look forward to helping!
Hope it goes well.
I am really excited about the fall color on these plants, but I'm not sure all of them will make it. I've planted some together in the same place and some are doing well and some are not.
We're sorry you're having trouble with your plants. Our team of horticulture experts would love to take a closer look! Please contact [email protected] with your order number and photos of the plants, and our team will begin to investigate. Your order is backed by our 60-day guarantee. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to helping! https://bit.ly/ggp-guarantee
Really hoping to get the great fall colors!
Very healthy. Can’t wait for it to bloom next spring.
Very healthy plants!
Can these be planted in a big container in the fall or later summer? I live in CT. Fairfield county, thanks
The rule of thumb is that plants are winter hardy in containers if it is two zones hardier than the zone you live in. We always recommend growing plants that are two zones hardier for success. But don’t let this rule stop you! You can check out our gardening article for tips on overwintering plants in containers here:
https://blog.greatgardenplants.com/5-easy-tips-for-protecting-your-potted-plants-this-winter/