Astilbe ‘Visions’
* Common name: Astilbe ‘Visions’
Astilbe ‘Vision in Pink’
* Botanical name: Astilbe chinensis ‘Visions’
* What it is: A shade perennial that produces plume-like spikes of flowers for about 6 weeks in July into early August. This is a compact type of Chinese astilbe that tolerates heat, sun and dry soil a bit better than most astilbes, although it still performs best in shade and damp soil. Comes in three colors: raspberry, red and pink.
* Size: 15-18 inches tall, space 2 feet apart.
* Where to use: Good choice for a north- or east-facing house-foundation bed, for edging a wooded area or in any damp, shady area. You’ll have to water under trees, though, since the tree roots tend to rob soil moisture most summers.
* Care: Water in dry weather. Fertilize in spring with an organic, granular fertilizer formulated for flowers. Cut foliage to ground in fall after frost or at end of winter. Optional: snip off flower spikes in late summer after they’re browned out. Spraying usually not needed. Dig and divide every few years in March or September if they’re spreading where you don’t want them.
* Great partner: The lacy leaves and spiky flowers pair well with rounded shade perennials, such as hosta, coralbells and brunnera. Boxwood also is a good, rounded evergreen neighbor.