It is hard to zone in on one, but .. I do have a favourite I wait to see this time of year .. Ostrich Plume !
This astilbe is rather unique in its form .. an arching flower head that slowly emerges from tight pink pearls to soft open flowers.
There are two classifications that pop up "thunbergii" and "straussenfeder" ... and I have to admit I am not sure which of these is what I have .. but I have a beauty !
That beautiful arch they have and the colour .. Gracie if you read this .. I am shocked about how much PINK I really do have in my garden !
It can't help but catch your eye no matter where you are in the shade garden.
Another graceful late bloomer is Flamingo ... yes also in the pink .. but a light shade and delicate looking.
My first astilbe picks when I started were Montgomery (beautiful red and gorgeous foliage no matter what the conditions) .. these are over 12 years old !
You can have astilbe that will bloom from Spring to Fall ... just do a little research and you will find how to do it .. they really are the work horses of the garden.
Now for just some pictures ... what amazes me is how they start like little pearls and bloom to such pretty frothy flowers !
Colourflash Lime starting out next to Chocolate Joe Pye weed
Large white patch contrasting with the red of Montgomery Red astilbe.
Goatsbeard is sometimes described as that to people who don't know this plant .. but really ? it does look like a giant astilbe doesn't it ?
I can't imagine my garden without astilbe and lots of them !!
9 comments:
I love astilbe also and have several, but after last summer I don't know how long they will exist in my garden. They really fried in the heat no matter how much water.
Eileen
I too am a lover of astillbe. Even when not in bloom, their foliage is beautiful. One of my favourites is the little Sprite. Diminutive in size but certainly not in flower power.
Your astillbe is gorgeous Joy. My white ones are lovely but my pink ones are on the smaller size this yera.
Joy, you have wonderful collection of astilbe! I love very much this one 'Amethyst', such unusual color. Will try to buy it for my collection as well!(as I've bought brunella after you've shown it)
Oh my gosh Eileen girl! having such a pretty plant fry like that is such a shame .. maybe last year was the worst of it ?
Shirley you are so right about the foliage .. so pretty too even after the flower is done.. I have Sprite some where .. just not sure now where now ? LOL
Hello Linda girl : ) white astilbe seem to shine don't they ? ,, each colour has characteristics of it's own .. I find the lighter the flower .. the lighter the foliage .. yet that rule was broken several times last year! haha
Nadezda girl hello there : )
Thank you so much! Amethyst was planted a few years ago mistakenly behind ostrich .. so I have to try and lift it from there so it can be seen better .. I am too happy to recommend plants ! : )
I need to do better by my astilbe. These all look so incredible Joy!
Thanks Jennifer girl .. I just seem to be lucky with them? .. now the red colour-flash ones are coming to life in the front .. I better get some pictures of them before they fade out and are done. I have some "dwarf" ones that are smiling a bit now too .. there are so many types of astilbe now it is hard to go wrong ? LOL
All that pink? It's because great minds think alike. :) I love that sweet Ostrich Plume variety. Wowzers. Actually they're all quite striking and remind me of fireworks. I've had trouble growing them here because my soil gets so dang dry in summer. There is a variety with red and green foliage that I'd like to try someday. Maybe I will... Great post!
Gracie ... I have loads of PINK in my garden and I think it must have been your influence girl! LOL
I love ostrich astilbe .. my fav .. I think I know which one you are thinking of .. I have it .. it is called Color Flash Astilbe .. it comes in "red" which is the red and green foliage and "Lime" which has fantastic lime colored foliage and PINK flower heads .. I love them both too!
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