Re: [SG] Favorite Shade Ground covers/ astilbe!!

In a message dated 1/5/99 9:44:19 PM Central Standard Time,
marimuse@EARTHLINK.NET writes:

<< Hi, Gene, I will have to check out the correct name of my ASTILBE.  I
 do not think that it even gets as high as ten inches, though, more
 like seven, including the bloom, and it is a pinkish color.  I really
 love it at the front of the border.

     Marilyn
  >>

Here is list of some of the shorter ASTILBE, they make great ground covers in
moist soils. ASTILBE as a rule do not like dry soils but they do not have to
be wet. You will get the best flower color if you give them some good sunlight
during the day, but maintain a bright shady location the rest of the time.

ASTILBE -(uh-STILL-bee)

A. arendsii 'Darwin's Dream' - Plants grow 15-17" tall and have dark glossy
foliage. Nice short stocky good pink flowers. Nice pot plants too.

A. arendsii 'Cotton Candy' - Nice dark pink plumes are very thick and stocky.
Plants bloom in mid to late season and grow 15" tall-really a nice addition to
the front of the border or in the rock garden.

Chinensis 'Pumila' -- very late blooming with short horizontal spreading
foliage and a spike like pink flower plume growing to 10" . Mine bloom at
6-8". Do not let the soil get to dry but this form will take dryer soils than
some. Plants spread under ground and form small carpets of leaves.

chinensis 'Visions' - I can't say enough good things about this plant if grown
well. Excellent in containers or used as a mass planting. Plants have nice
coarse leaves with up right spike like plumes that are a raspberry violet
color. long blooming and showy. The flower stems will persist all winter and
they look like small reddish brown Christmas trees-nice looking in the snow.
I buy plants from  different sources and they seem to be different plants. One
grows 18" tall and the other grows 12-15" tall. I love this ASTILBE.

A.simplicifolia 'Darwin's Snow Sprite' - Attractive glossy leaves that are
dark in color. Pure white flowers are in lose plumes that spread out over the
top of the plants. 12" tall. Gives the garden a nice soft feel.

A. simplicifolia X 'Hennie Graafland' - Soft pink flowers with a more up right
shape to it's growth-with the plumes spreading out over the top of the plants.
Nice thick clumps.

A. simplicifolia X 'Sprite' - Fine dissected leaves are a bronze color with
soft shell pink flower plumes. Late blooming and growing 12" tall.

In closing I would like to say ASTILBE are a fine group of plants. Just do not
allow the soil to get real dry and they will reward you for many years with
their attractive flowers and foliage.
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