Astilbe flowers growing in the garden. Step-by-step instructions for planting astilba seeds

Engineering systems 13.06.2019

Engineering systems

Astilba is appreciated by both professional gardeners and amateurs for its unpretentiousness, as well as lush and long flowering. A sprawling flower looks spectacular, even if it does not bloom - beautiful green leaves of an attractive shape can decorate any household plot. In this article, we will consider how to properly grow astilbe in open field, planting features, care and photos of different varieties of this bush.

Morphological features and characteristics of the flower

Astilbe looks quite original and presentable, and when flowering, it simply transforms the entire backyard area. It's decorative bush with split leaves bright green, located on the branches of a reddish hue.

Gardeners prefer astilba not only for a reason lush flowering, but also due to the fact that, unlike many other plants, it can be in constant shade when planted, creating a magnificent colorful flowering. But strong darkening is contraindicated even for this plant. Best planting in partial shade.

Astilbe can sustainably endure severe frosts, it is almost not exposed to diseases, and even many harmful insects fly around it. This is the most the best way for the beginner grower.

Astilba is a perennial flower, native to Asia and Japan. In total there are more than 300 species, each of them has its own size, shape, color and splendor of flowering. The growth of this plant can be in the range of 15-250 cm. The flowers are in panicles 15260 cm long, after flowering, "boxes" appear on them, in which there are small seeds. Almost all types of astilba begin flowering in June.

The ground part of this plant winter time dies off and root system waits out frosts and begins its growth in spring. Every year, buds form on top of the roots, giving a constant increase of about 4 cm, and the lower part dies off after a while. To ensure comfortable development of the formed buds, after dying, soil is poured onto the exposed root.

As mentioned above, the breeders really liked the lush astilba, so that they created more than 300 of its species. We will not describe the advantages of each, but consider only the most common and beautiful.

Astilba Arendsa

This is a whole family of astilbes, which is represented by 50 hybrids that appeared as a result of the selection of the giant astilbe of David. They differ in developed trunks up to 160 cm high. They have a cone-shaped or spherical shape with lush vegetation. Flowers come in completely different shades from pure white to bright purple.

Hybrid bushes differ both in size and long flowering time - more than a month. The most attractive plant species were created by G. Arends, therefore the class of hybrids was named after this scientist. For example, astilba Gloria is a perennial plant up to 90 cm long during flowering. This shrub easily winters and growing, perhaps, on almost any soil, except sandy. It is characterized by fluffy pink inflorescences in the form of a rhombus, a delicate sweet aroma and openwork foliage. Gloria is water loving, therefore it is best to plant it on the coast of a lake or an artificial pond. Other hybrids:

Liliput is a small plant up to 30 cm long. Dense pinkish inflorescences begin to bloom in late July. Lilliput is great for equipment Alpine slide or a small backyard flower garden.
Jump & Jive - a bush up to half a meter long, blooming at the end of June. Produces large, branched pinkish buds that contrast beautifully with the green foliage.
Boogie Woogie is also a hybrid species that grows 60-75 cm. In July, it will delight you with contrasting pink diamond-shaped flowers, giving the bush a magnificent shape.

Chinese astilba

This plant can be up to 120 cm long, it has big leaves near the roots and smaller ones near the inflorescences. Starts flowering quite densely packed inflorescences up to 30 cm with small purple flowers.

There are undersized varieties of Chinese astilba up to 30 cm long and species with pyramidal flowers. This variety of bushes feels more confident when grown in unshaded areas and in partial shade.

Japanese astilba

This is not a tall bush, as described above (up to 75 cm) and is characterized by small, densely located leaves with a pronounced pattern. Flowers pink and white color bloom much earlier than other varieties, while even after drying, the inflorescences practically do not lose their shape and decorate the flower bed until the end of autumn.

Japanese astilbe is a hybrid that bred by Arendson in 1838. Since that time, several more species have been cultivated, characterized by frost resistance and excellent survival in any region.

simple astilba

This hybrid does not perceive a dry climate very well and requires periodic abundant watering. The plant can be up to half a meter long and forms thinned inflorescences.

Astilba propagation methods

Growing astilba on suburban area an easy job. The plant propagates by seed and vegetative method. During the latter, the division of the plant and reproduction by the kidneys is possible. And if this method is suitable for beginners, then the seed method allows you to breed new plant varieties.

Propagation with seeds

Seeds are located in boxes that come to replace beautiful flowers. It is necessary to sow them in March, subjecting them to stratification before that. Why the seeds are placed in a container with sand and peat in a ratio of 1: 1, put on top snow layer 1 cm(suitable "snow" from the freezer).

Snow thaws over time, moistening the earth, enriching it with useful elements and immersing seeds in the soil. When the snow has completely melted, the container must be covered with a film and placed at the bottom of the refrigerator for 3 weeks. During this period, the first shoots are formed, they will be hardened and will perfectly endure the next wintering.

After 3 weeks, the sprouts of the bush are transferred to a bright room with a temperature of + 22C. Plants should be watered very carefully, using a syringe without a needle and directing water only under the root.

When the seedlings are a little stronger and a few leaves appear, transplant them into small pots.

Attention: varietal astilbes will not be able to propagate using seeds, as hybrids cannot store their characteristics. Bushes grown by this method are used only in breeding.

Propagation by plant division

As a rule, astilba is propagated by dividing the plant. This is a fairly simple and effective option.

Plant division:

Carefully remove the soil near the plant with a diameter of 17-25 cm and remove the earthen ball with the root system.
Remove excess soil to clear the roots.
Cut the root into pieces with a knife, and each part must have at least 3 buds.
Plant bushes at a distance of 25 and arrange for sufficient watering every day.

If you divide the plant at the end of February, then by autumn the bush will already delight you with its flowers.

Reproduction with the help of kidneys

This reproduction is the fastest. It should be carried out in the spring, when the shoots grow. Carefully cut off the buds from the root and fill the cut on the branch with coal, so harmful organisms do not get inside.

Plant the cuttings in a peat and gravel mixture in a 3: 1 ratio and cover with foil. Before transplanting a bush into open ground, it must get stronger and begin its development. A bush can be planted on the site only in the fall.

Landing

Planting this plant in open ground and care will not require great skills and costs. The most important thing is to choose optimal location and organize the necessary conditions. It is necessary to plant plants at the end of May on the northern side of the site in partial shade.

If there is a pond in the backyard, then plant an astilba near it. It is desirable to select a fertile loamy soil. Acidity is essential in the range of 5.4-6.4 pH. If there are hostas next to the astilba, then their leaves will not allow the bush to overheat in the summer.

When choosing a place for planting a plant, you need to take into account the time of flowering different types. Thus, astilba, which blooms in July, loves dark places more, while other species feel equally good in the shade and in the sun.

By and large, any soil is suitable for astilba, but if you need to get lush and long flowering, then you need to choose a site in which The groundwater are near the surface. You also need to take care of the presence of phosphorus and potassium in the soil. When digging holes for breeding, add complex fertilizers at 35 gr./sq. m and 2 presses of bone meal. If you plant astilbe in a flower bed, then make a recess of 35 cm and put the additives listed above mixed in with humus.

Astilbe landing stages:

Dig up the area and remove all weeds.
Fertilize the soil.
If necessary, make liming with dolomite flour.
Make indentations 35 cm with a distance of 40 cm.
Add fertilizer and water them.
Plant the sprouts and sprinkle so that the thickness of the soil above the buds is at least 5 cm.
Pack the soil and mulch with compost.

Care

A feature of this plant is that the roots grow upwards, and do not tend downwards, like in other bushes. In this case, the lower processes die after a while. And if you do not organize normal feeding for new roots, the plant will die. Therefore, every year you need to sprinkle the bare roots with soil and prevent them from drying out.

The main requirement during care is constant watering. Regular mulching of the earth will protect the roots from the sun, and also make it possible to control emergence of weeds.

Do not forget that the frequency and amount of watering will depend on the type of astilba, so study the characteristics of the selected variety, watch the training video and photo on planting this plant. During the formation of flowers, all species require enhanced watering, and if the summer is hot, then it must be done twice a day. You need to feed the bush from spring, adding nitrogen fertilizers. After top dressing, the earth needs to be mulched.

Pests

Since the homeland of astilba is far beyond the borders of our country, it has no enemies here, but still like some insects. There are quite a few of them, but still they can bring significant damage to the plant.

The main pest is penny. This is a small flying insect that secretes a mica-like foamy solution, and lays its larvae in it. Finally, due to certain chemical composition given secretions and the presence of larvae, the leaves of the plant curl and covered with various stains. From which the bush partially withers or completely dies. Special chemistry will help get rid of this pest - rogor, aktara, confidor or karbofos.

Two more pests are strawberry and gall nematodes. The first is settled in leaves and flowers, as a result, the leaves curl and become stained, the bush slows down its growth, begins to wither and dies.

Summing up, we can say that due to the variety of species, astilba looks great as a single plant, flower beds and borders. This shrub perfectly coexists with various flower and herbal crops, such as daylilies, hostas, lilies and geyhers. Due to the ease of care, these spreading bushes will really decorate any backyard territory.

Beautiful astilba at their summer cottage

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Astilba planting and care in open ground which will be described in this article, is especially appreciated by gardeners for its unusual appearance, a long period flowering, the ability to easily tolerate waterlogging of the soil and shade tolerance. This plant looks beautiful not only when it blooms. From spring to late autumn, astilba decorates the flower bed with openwork leaves on reddish petioles.

Our article presents detailed description and a photo plants. You can learn more about planting methods and features of growing astilba by looking at video at the end of the article.

The plant is suitable for forcing and cutting. Astilba bushes are covered with lush foliage, which will be a wonderful decoration for flower baskets and bouquets.

What does astilba look like when it blooms

The herbaceous plant Astilba is a member of the saxifrage family. The first representatives of this culture grew in Japan, East Asia and North America. There are about 40 species of this plant and more than 400 varieties.

The height of the bush can vary from 1 to 2 m.
Flowers are collected in paniculate inflorescences 10-60 cm long. The color of flowers can be the most diverse: white, red, pink and purple.
The color of the foliage can be dark green, burgundy, bronze.
In the form of a fruit - a box with small seeds.
The flowering period is from June to August.

Astilba varieties

More than 400 varieties of astilba, differing from each other in size, color of flowers and shape of leaves, have been bred by scientists. The most famous and popular types include:

David. The bush can reach a height of 150 cm. The inflorescences are located horizontally, looking down, the flowers are lilac-pink in color. Flowering period from July to August.

Naked. Plant height up to 20 cm. Flowering - in June, July. The foliage has a bronze tint.

Chinese. The bush can reach a height of up to 100 cm. The flowers of the plant are pink, lilac or white, and the leaves are covered with reddish fluff. The inflorescences are up to 30 cm long. The flowering period lasts from June to August.

Japanese. It reaches a height of about 70 cm. The bush grows well, forming a circle of wide diameter. Inflorescences up to 30 cm long, diamond-shaped, pink, red, white flowers.

The flowering period is mid-summer. This variety is resistant to cold, as well as the fact that it takes root well.

Thunberg. The height of the bush is up to 80 cm, the flowers are white, the edges of the leaves are jagged. Inflorescences are rare, look down, panicle width 10 cm, length - 25 cm. Flowering period: July-August. This variety belongs to the pyramidal species, it is distinguished by sprawling shoots, which are covered with dense foliage. The species does not respond well to low humidity and heat.

Preparing for landing

It is advisable to choose a site for planting astilba with a close fit ground water. The plant can also be planted on the shore of a pond located in the garden. Insofar as sandy soil does not retain moisture well, then from above the area must be mulched with peat.

If astilbe was purchased in a store, then before planting, the rhizome should be soaked in warm water for 1 hour. It is recommended to add potassium permanganate to the water so that the solution turns pale pink.

Watch the video! How to plant astilba

Astilbe planting

Landing technology:

The first step is to dig a hole 30 cm deep.
At the bottom of the pit should fall asleep organic fertilizer(compost), which is used in the proportion of 2 buckets per 1 sq.m.
It is recommended to add 1 tbsp to the hole. complex fertilizer of any kind containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (nitroammophoska) or 2 handfuls of ash.
Then the fertilizer is mixed with the soil.
Then water is poured into the hole.
Astilba should be planted in the ground deepening the root neck by 5-6 cm. After the water in the hole is absorbed, 3-4 cm of dry soil should be poured on top, which will help retain moisture in the rhizome area for as long as possible.
For a long time to keep moisture in the hole, as well as facilitate the adaptation of the plant will help the mulching procedure. As mulch, you can use sawdust, humus, needles, chopped bark.

Astilbe grows very slowly, so it is recommended to plant it tightly: 20 * 20 cm. Planting will become dense next year. It will be possible to thin out the plants in 2-3 years.

Perfectly combined astilba flower with other types of plants. The easiest way to grow is in monoplants using one variety. You can also plant a plant in groups, using several varieties with flowers of the same tone, but different height.

Leave cultivation

The main methods of caring for flowers include:

weeding;
loosening;
watering;
mulching.

Watering

Astilba needs constant watering. It is recommended to keep the top layer of soil constantly moist, as the root system can only develop well in moist soil. It is necessary to water the flower at least 1 time per week; in hot weather, this procedure must be carried out at least 2 times a week. Astilba can be watered both under the root and using the sprinkling method, since this plant is resistant to the appearance and spread of fungal diseases.

Even a short drying of the soil on the site can lead to the fact that the leaves of the astilbe will wilt, the inflorescences will become smaller, and the bush itself will look sloppy. In order to prevent these undesirable consequences, the plant should be mulched with any organic material:

dry leaves;
sawdust;
bark.

Advice! For mulching, it is best to use compost, as it is an organic concentrated top dressing and preserves enough level humidity in the area.

Fertilizer

The main part of the fertilizer must be applied to the site when planting astilba. The plant is very fond of organic top dressing. It is recommended to add up to 1 liter of humus to the planting pit, after which the composition should be mixed well with the soil.

After flowering is complete, autumn period, several buds are formed at the base of the shoot formed this year. They will subsequently develop rosettes of leaves. The following year, flower stalks will appear from the rosettes. Small buds located below will begin to develop only next year.

Advice! The plant annually rises above the site at a distance of 3-5 cm. Therefore, every year it is necessary to bring fertile land to the site.

reproduction

Astilba can be propagated:

division of roots;
cuttings;
kidney renewal;
seeds.

The division of the bush

Even old bushes can be used for reproduction, because after the procedure, dormant buds wake up on them.

The division procedure should be carried out more often than 1 time in 3 years. Dig up the plant should be in early spring - in March, or at the end of August.

When propagating a bush with the help of division, it is necessary to ensure that each division has 3-4 buds. The rhizomes are divided into 4-5 parts and planted in a new area, keeping a gap of 35-40 cm between the bushes. Places of cuts on the roots are treated with crushed charcoal.

Kidney renewal

At the beginning of spring, when the young shoots have not yet had time to grow, it is necessary to cut the buds with a sharp garden knife from the beginning of the rhizome, and then process the cuts with wood ash.
Planting material obtained in this way is planted in a mixture consisting of 3 parts of peat and 1 part of gravel, and then covered with a film to create a greenhouse effect.
Then you should wait for the rooting of the shoot, which occurs within 3 weeks.
Young and strong bushes are transplanted to a permanent place in early autumn, or next spring.

cuttings

seeds

The method of propagation by seeds is most often used for selective work, since they do not germinate well.

Seeds should be sown in the garden spring or in the fall, without filling them with soil. The location for the plant is best chosen in the shade.
The first shoots appear after 10-15 days, and if sowing was carried out in the fall, then in the spring.
After the first true leaf appears on the plant, seedlings should be planted at a distance of 15 cm from each other.
Fortified bushes can be planted in a permanent place.
Young plantings for the winter are covered with foliage.

When propagating from seedlings, pre-stratified seeds should be sown in early or mid-March.

The seed is placed in a container for planting with a depth of 15-17 cm with a sand-peat mixture, covered with a layer of snow.
Melting snow will gradually moisten the soil and allow the seeds to sink to the depth necessary for cultivation.
Crops for 3 weeks should be placed in a cool place, previously covered with a film.
After the first true leaves appear on the sprouts, a picking procedure should be carried out.
Caring for the plant in the future consists in watering and observing temperature regime 20-22 degrees.

Watch the video! Astilba planting and care. Astilba sowing seeds

Diseases and pests

The plant very rarely becomes a victim of diseases and pests, in rare cases it can be affected by:

drooling pennitsa;
gall nematode;
strawberry nematode.

Pennitsa is usually located in the leaf axils of the plant. After some time, salivary-like secretions appear inside them in the form of foam, inside of which leafhopper larvae are located. Affected leaves shrivel and become covered with yellow spots. The bush at the same time completely or partially withers.

In order to get rid of this pest, you should use:

Rogor;
Confidor;
Aktar (2-3 g per 10 liters of water);
Karbofos.

The buds, flowers, leaves of the plant are prone to the resettlement of the strawberry nematode. The affected areas of the bush are deformed and covered with necrotic spots of brown or yellow color. The growth of astilba is deteriorating.

The gall nematode most often affects the roots of the plant and manifests itself in the form of small galls (growths) on their surface, inside which the nematodes are located. The galls are well distinguished already in the second period of vegetation. The flowering and growth of the affected bushes noticeably worsens, in some cases the plant dies. Therefore, shoots that have obvious signs of the disease must be dug up and destroyed.

Important! In the first growing season, it is very important to carry out the first weeding on time. In the second growing season, the overgrown root system of the plant will independently drown out the weeds.

The young foliage of the plant sometimes suffers from frosts that occur in late spring, but this cannot be an obstacle to the emergence of new leaves and flowers. Astilbe perennial tolerates harsh winters well, but suffers from spring frosts and wetting. The plant is suitable for growing in regions with unfavorable climatic conditions, including in the Urals, in Siberia.

Important! Varieties that have the greatest decorative value, with large inflorescences, may freeze slightly.

Preparing for winter

On bushes that have already faded, panicles must be removed so that they do not set seeds. This procedure will preserve the strength of the plant for wintering.

In winters with little snow, astilba must be additionally covered:

In autumn, the bush should be cut.
Then install a light frame over it.
Inside the frame fill with leaves.
Lutrasil or spunbond is tightened from above.
Then cover with plastic to protect from moisture. The edges are pressed with bricks.

astilba flower: combination with other plants

It is quite justified to grow astilba in group plantings with other plants. Look great decorative bushes Near coniferous trees. In addition, conifers provide astilbe with protection from the sun.

Astilbe bushes are in perfect harmony with:

late tulips;
hosts;
periwinkle;
irises.

Single plantings of astilba on a green lawn look decorative.

Astilbe bushes fit perfectly into landscape design when making landings in the shade. Also, the plant is used for single or group plantings, creating complex solutions in the shade or partial shade.

Plant care is simple, it consists in timely, moderate watering and will not cause any particular difficulties.

Watch the video! Astilba: cultivation, care, reproduction

Gardeners appreciate astilba for its long flowering, unusual appearance, shade tolerance and the ability to tolerate waterlogging of the soil. The plant is beautiful not only during flowering. Its openwork leaves on reddish petioles are decorative from spring to late autumn.

The culture is suitable for cutting and forcing. Lush astilbe panicles are an unsurpassed decoration of bouquets and flower baskets.

What does astilba look like when it blooms

Astilba is a member of the saxifrage family, the closest relative of other common garden flowers: saxifrage, geyher, bergenia. More than 400 varieties have been developed with a variety of sizes, flower colors and leaf shapes.

Varietal astilbes have a height of 15 to 200 cm. The color of the flowers is white, red, pink and purple. Flowers are collected in inflorescences-panicles, up to 60 centimeters long. The leaves are large, complex-pinnate, dark green to bronze in color.

Astilba blooms in June-August, and in September you can collect boxes with small seeds from it. Flowering takes 3-5 weeks. In sparse shade, flowers will live longer than in the sun. In the sun, flowering is shorter, but twice as magnificent. Panicles do not last long when cut, but they can be dried and used in winter bouquets.

Astilba does not have a root, but a rhizome that goes vertically or obliquely into the ground. It is covered with adventitious roots and daughter buds. The lower roots are old and gradually die off. The upper roots are young, growing rapidly. Thus, the bush gradually grows up and rises above the ground.

Table: types of astilba

View	Description
David	Height up to 150 cm. The flowers are lilac-pink, panicles are located horizontally or look down. Flowering in July-August
naked	Height up to 20 cm. Leaves of bronze color. Flowering in June and July
Chinese	Height up to 100 cm. The leaves are covered with reddish fluff. The flowers are lilac, pink and white. Inflorescence length up to 30 cm. Flowering from June to August.
Japanese	Height 70 cm. The plant grows rapidly, forming a circle of a meter diameter. Flowers white or pink, fragrant. Inflorescences are diamond-shaped, up to 30 cm long. Blooms in the middle of summer
Thunberg	Height up to 80 cm, leaves serrated along the edges. The flowers are white, the width of the panicles is 10 cm, the length is 25 cm. The inflorescences are rare, directed downwards. Blooms in July-August

Preparing for landing

In order for astilba to quickly take root, you need to choose a place and time of planting. The plant prefers organically fertilized loamy soils.

High varieties are planted at a distance of 0.5 m from each other, low ones after 20-30 cm. White and light pink varieties look better in the sun, dark ones in the shade.

Before planting, they dig up the earth, remove the rhizomes of weeds, and add organic matter.

If an astilba rhizome is purchased in a store, it is better to soak it for an hour in warm water before planting. A little potassium permanganate can be added to the water to make a pale pink solution.

When propagating astilba by seeds, stratification will be required:

Place the seeds in a cold place with a temperature of -4 to +4 degrees, mixed with wet peat.
Soak in the cold for 20 days, making sure that the peat does not dry out.
After 20 days, transfer the seeds to heat - 20-22 degrees and sow.

For planting, dark areas are chosen, preferably with close contact with groundwater. You can plant astilba on the shore of a garden pond. Sandy soils that do not retain moisture well are mulched with a layer of peat on top.

Landing algorithm:

Dig a planting hole about 30 cm deep.
Pour organic matter into the bottom.
You can add a tablespoon of any complex fertilizer to the hole; containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, or two handfuls.
Mix fertilizer with soil.
Fill the hole with water.

Astilba is planted in the mud, deepening the root collar by 5-6 cm. When the water in the hole is absorbed, pour a 3-4 cm layer of dry earth on top - it “bans” moisture in the rhizome area and will not allow it to evaporate quickly.

Astilba grows slowly, so it is better to plant it more densely - 20 by 20 cm. Such plantings become dense the very next year. After 2-3 years they can be thinned out.

Astilba does not blend well with other colors. It is easier to plant it in mono-plantings, using one variety. Can be planted in groups of several varieties with flowers of the same color, but different bush heights.

Care and cultivation of astilba

Flower care consists of loosening, weeding, watering, soil mulching. Faded panicles are best cut so that they do not set seeds - this will keep the plant strong in preparation for wintering.

Often the companion of astilbe is the rhizome weed, which is very depressing. cultivated plants. During care, it is important to choose gout rhizomes from the soil, trying not to damage underground part astilbe.

In autumn, several buds form at the base of the shoot formed this year, from which rosettes of leaves will develop. Flower stalks will appear from the rosettes next year. From small buds located on the stem below, rosette leaves will develop only the next year. So astilbe annually rises 3-5 cm above the ground. Therefore, the plant must be sprinkled with fertile soil every year.