The only downside to growing colorful astilbe (Astilbe spp.) plants is that they don’t bloom nonstop from early spring to late winter!
That’s pretty much the only disadvantage if you ask me. Astilbe plants are easy to care for, do well in shady spots, and need little in the way of maintenance.
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You can enjoy weeks of colorful flowers without much – if any – work on your part.
I don’t know about you, but I’m greedy. Several weeks of the tall plumes of feather-like flowers just aren’t enough. I want more!
That’s where this guide comes in. We’re going to talk about when these plants bloom, how long they can last in ideal conditions, and how to extend the floral performance.
You’ll find our astilbe growing guide here if you need a refresher on their care needs.
Here’s the lineup:
What You’ll Learn
I won’t keep you in suspense. Let’s first establish when these plants typically start budding out and how long it lasts.
There’s a short answer and a long answer to the question of when astilbe blooms. All types flower sometime between spring and late summer.
But not all send out blossoms at the same time and none of them bloom for the entire growing season.
We generally group these species into three bloom time categories: early, mid-season, and late.
Early types pop out in late spring or early summer.
Mid-season varieties start flowering around the middle of summer, followed by the late-season bloomers, which start their display in late summer.
Depending on the cultivar, the flowers can remain on the plants for about three weeks, but in some cases they can last up to six weeks while others might stop after two.
After the flowers fade, they turn into caramel-brown seed heads that continue the display.
The great news is that since there is so much variety, you could plant different cultivars from each flowering group so that you have something consistently in bloom from spring until the end of summer.
Let’s look at a few plants in each category. Pick a few from each and you can have constant flowers from June through September.
Keep in mind that these categories aren’t hard and fast. One grower might categorize a plant as an early bloomer while another will call it a mid-season type.
Plus, bloom timing hinges on plant maturity, local climates, etc. I literally saw several plants while I was shopping that were separately listed by different companies as early, mid-, and late season!
In addition, although they are not common just yet, there are a few cultivars and hybrids that will rebloom. I expect more rebloomers to make it to the market in the future.
Early Season Types
Early types start flowering around June and generally finish up sometime in July. German hybrids often fall into this category, though many of those can also be mid-season types.
Pure white ’Avalanche,’ bubblegum pink ‘Mighty Pip,’ and salmon-pink ‘Sprite’ are a few common options, but I’m particularly fond of the following:
Diamant
‘Diamant’ is draped in thick, tall spires of creamy white blossoms that can reach up to 18 inches tall and two feet wide. The plumes last so long that they can extend into the mid-season.
You can find bare roots in packets of three, six, or nine, available at Eden Brothers.
Chocolate Shogun
I’d be growing this A. thunbergii hybrid even if it didn’t bloom. The deep chocolate-bronze foliage provides a striking accent in the garden.
Then the panicles emerge with their bright pink buds that open into snowy white blossoms. It’s a contrast that draws all the attention.
Bring ‘Chocolate Shogun’ to your garden by visiting Nature Hills Nursery to pick up a live plant in a #1 container.
Fanal
Say “hello” to one of the Royal Horticultural Society’s 1993 Award of Garden Merit winners.
‘Fanal’ packs a mighty punch into a petite little package. This dwarf cultivar has tall spires of deep crimson-red flowers atop bronze-green foliage.
Whether you have a small spot or you want to create a sweet little border in a shady spot, this astilbe cultivar is ideal. You can find ‘Fanal’ plants available at Burpee.
Younique Pink
When the feathery spires emerge on this A. japonica hybrid, the words “bubblegum” and “Barbie” spring to mind.
‘Younique Pink’ is extremely floriferous with bright pink blossoms that last for weeks before fading to a rich caramel color.
Short in stature, it makes an extremely striking ground cover when you plant in groups. You can find bare roots available at Burpee.
Mid-Season Types
The mid-season types make up the majority of astilbe cultivars on the market, with popular options such as pink ‘Amethyst,’ salmon-rose ‘Bressingham Beauty,’ dark red ‘Montgomery,’ ruby ‘Red Sentinel,’ and pale pink ‘Straussenfeder.’
Most Japanese hybrids (A. x japonica) and A. thunbergii cultivars fall in this category. Here are just a few of our favorites:
Bridal Veil
Romantic and graceful, ‘Bridal Veil’ looks like it has been draped in gauzy silk when it blooms in midsummer.
This A. arendsii hybrid has long been a favorite for its pyramidal plumes towering over bronze and green foliage that resembles that of a fern.
The plumes last for several weeks before fading to caramel brown. ‘Bridal Veil’ snagged the Royal Horticultural Society’s prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
You can find this cultivar available in #3 containers at Nature Hills Nursery.
Maggie Daley
The narrow, bright lavender-pink plumes of ‘Maggie Daley’ are dense and fuzzy, and this plant tolerates some drought.
The blooms last for an extremely long time.
You can find ‘Maggie Daly’ available in #1 containers at Nature Hills Nursery.
Visions
The fragrant raspberry-pink blossoms are a treat, but A. chinensis ‘Visions’ has more to offer than just a floral display.
The dwarf plant itself is drought tolerant and is heaped in mounds of glossy bronze-green, lacy leaves that are pretty enough to be a foliage ornamental.
You can find ‘Visions’ available at Nature Hills Nursery in #1 containers.
Late Season Types
Chinese hybrids and cultivars (A. chinensis) usually fall into this group.
Pale pink ‘Hyacinth,’ lavender ‘Pumila,’ violet ‘Purple Candle,’ fuchsia ‘Superba’ are a few stand-outs, as are:
Dark Side of the Moon
The show begins even before the flowers emerge. ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ sends out yellow leaves in the spring that transform to deep chocolate bronze.
Then, in the late season, rosy-purple plumes rocket out of the darkness.
This hybrid is drought tolerant, though it looks its best with some regular moisture. Head over to Nature Hills Nursery for live plants in #1 containers.
Peach Blossom
The peachy spires of A. japonica ‘Peach Blossom’ pop up in the late season and last for weeks to come.
The feathery spires can be a full 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide in ideal conditions.
The plumes of this hybrid are so dense that they can almost completely conceal the lacy green foliage.
Find ‘Peach Blossom’ at Eden Brothers in packs of three, six, or nine bare roots.
Tips to Enhance Flowering
Feel free to go ahead and deadhead your astilbe plants after they bloom, but just don’t expect them to flower again. They won’t rebloom after deadheading.
If you hate the look of the seed heads, you can certainly clean up the plants by cutting the flowering stalks at the base.
I sometimes see it suggested that you cut the plants back to the ground after blooming to encourage them to return with new blossoms. Don’t do this.
The leaves are what provide the nutrients to the roots so that they can develop new flowers the following year.
If you take those leaves away, your plant can’t draw nutrients to store in the roots.
While it might not extend the bloom season necessarily, these tips can help encourage more abundant and larger flowers that may potentially persist on the plant for a bit longer.
First, make sure your plants have enough light. Although astilbe can grow in full shade, most do better with partial shade or partial sun.
Astilbe also needs consistently moist soil. An organic mulch like leaf litter, pine bark, or compost can help the soil retain moisture.
The soil should be rich and loose. If it’s not, work in compost before planting and fertilize your astilbe regularly with a bloom-boosting food.
Divide the plants every three or four years to refresh them and encourage more flowers.
If your plants fail to bloom altogether, there are a few possible reasons for this: Too much shade, not enough water, pests, and disease are all potential causes.
Our guide to why astilbe plants may fail to bloom has more information.
We Demand an Encore!
I know we were all taught when we were kids not to be greedy, but I just don’t think a month or so of astilbe blossoms is enough. I want more, more, more!
While a single plant won’t give us the months of flowers we want, it’s so simple to group a few together with staggered flowering seasons. Voila! An encore performance!
Are you planning to grow a few different plants for staggered blossoms? Which combination will you plant? Let us know in the comments section below!
And for more information about growing astilbe in your garden, add these guides to your reading list next:
