Amethyst Astilbe

Other Names: False Spirea

Description:

Lovely lilac-mauve colored plumes rising above lacy delicate leaves; perfect in a shady spot with dappled light; prefers moisture so water regularly for abundant flowers and nice foliage

Ornamental Features:

Amethyst Astilbe features beautiful plumes of lilac purple flowers at the ends of the stems from early to mid summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It's deeply cut ferny compound leaves remain dark green in colour throughout the season. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.

Landscape Attributes:

Amethyst Astilbe is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance perennial, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Amethyst Astilbe is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• General Garden Use
• Mass Planting
• Container Planting
• Border Edging
• Rock/Alpine Gardens

Plant Characteristics:

Amethyst Astilbe will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years.

This perennial does best in partial shade to shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the leaves in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone over the growing season to conserve soil moisture. This plant can be propagated by division.

This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.