VERMONT FLOWER FARM

Astilbes are underused but dependable perennials which are quickly gaining in popularity as gardeners learn about their diversity of heights, textures, and leaf and stem colors. They range in height from 10 inch tall ground cover types such as Pumilum to 6 foot tall background varieties such as Superba. They prefer a moist, compost-rich soil in partial shade but will tolerate full sun given adequate rain or supplemental watering.

Astilbes are impressive in mass plantings where they do not have to compete with tree and shrub roots. We work leaf compost, aged manures and peat moss into the soil at planting time and then mulch with wood chips to maintain balanced moisture. A typical 3" root division will become a mature plant within one-two years. An astilbe root is a thick fibrous mat with a number of finer side roots. The roots are tough and sometimes difficult to divide which is accomplished by cutting with a large knife, hand saw or small axe. That may sound odd but the main root is quite strong and allows the plant to store water for dry times.

Many gardening journals describe astilbes for the strength they lend to the garden. They are physically able to stand well even under unfavorable wind conditions. As plants mature, they form a tight clump of stems and leaves which work well with hostas, daylilies and lilies. If you visit us, you'll notice we have worked them into a number of display garden situations, from full sun to heavy shade. Our astilbe display garden in the lower foundation garden affords the opportunity to compare 45 different and mature astilbes in one setting.

As you consider using astilbes, consider their mature size, texture and color as well as bloom time. Think through the light conditions of your intended garden placement as the same astilbe in the open, in half shade or in full shade each grow differently. No matter what your decision, all astilbes are a trouble free flower you'll be happy to have. They do best when divided every 4-5 years as the center root begins to diminish as the plant matures. Spring fertilizing around the perimeter of the plant and fall clean up after heavy frost will keep them looking special. Enjoy!

PICTURE	NAME	DESCRIPTION	BLOOM	HT	$EA
	Amerika	Fluffy light, lilac-rose blooms	June/July	28"	$8.50
	Amethyst	Arends 1920. Long, deep purple plumes	July-August	2.5-3 feet	$8.50
	Anita Pfiefer	Nice compact foliage w/dense, medium rose blooms. Liked by many for its compact habit	July	18"	$8.50
	Betsy Cuperus	Pale pink, graceful, weeping plumes	July-August	2.5 feet	$8.50
	Bressingham Beauty	By Alan Bloom. Arching salmon-rose. Looks nice with L.A. hybrid lilies	July	2.5 feet	$8.50
	Bridal Veil	Excellent arching white plumes	July	24"	$8.50
	Cattleya	Medium rose --looks great w. pink coneflower and Acapulco Oriental lilies	July into August	3 feet	$8.50
	Country & Western	Soft pink floriferous plumes, dark green foliage	July	20"	$8.50
	Deutchland	Arends 1920. Long, creamy white plumes w/medium green foliage	July	24"	$8.50
	Dunkellachs simplicifolia	Salmon pink blooms w/red stems which stand above bronze-green foliage	July-August	16"	$8.50
	Eden's Odysseus	Soft, fluffy pink blooms w/very dark foliage. Good cut flower	July	3 feet	$8.50
	Elizabeth Van Bloom	Tall, shell pink blooms w/glossy green foliage	July	24"-28"	$8.50
	Elisabeth van Veen	Long, raspberry plumes	July	28"	$8.50
	Ellie	Really nice full, bright, creamy white blooms w/medium green foliage	July-August	32"	$8.50
	Erica	Long, silvery rose plumes	July	32"	$8.50
	Europa	Medium pink and very floriferous. Good cut flower	June/July	22"	$8.50
	Fanal	Arends 1933. One of the earliest reds budding here in June	July	22"	$8.50
	Finale	One of the latest! Soft, medium rose	August	15"	$8.50
	Flamingo	Airy pink plumes, glossy foliage	July	30"	$8.50
	Gloria	Light lavender	July	18"	$8.50
	Glow	Excellent deep red	July	24"	$8.50
	Granat	Arends 1920 Deep raspberry red plumes. Very nice w. Asiatc lily 'America'	July	20"	$8.50
	Hennie Graafland	Light pink, star-like blooms on compact mound of leaves.	August	16"	$8.50
	Hyacinth	Long, full lavender blooms. Receives lots of comments!	July-August	2.5 feet	$8.50
	Jacqueline	One of George's favorites! Large pink plumes, dark green foliage. Nice w/short pink Oriental lilies	July into August	22"	$8.50
	Jump & Jive	Bright red blooms above medium green foliage	July-August	16"	$8.50
	Kriemhilde	Light, salmon pink,open blooms	June-July	36"	$8.50
	Liliput Crispa	Light salmon pink w/dark green foliage. Only 6" tall. Slower to establish	Late July into August	6"	$8.50
	Lollypop	Thick rosy pink plumes with green foliage and red stems	July	14"-16"	$8.50
	Maggie Daley	One of the deepest purple/rose blooms we've seen	July	28"	$8.50
	Moerheim's Glory	Large, light, creamy-whitish pink arching blooms. Need consistent moisture because of size--yes, that's 6 feet!!	August	6 feet	$8.50
	Obergartner Jurgens	A great color--shimmering rosy-red, thick puffy plumes and very dark foliage	July into early August	20"	$8.50
	Peach Blossom	A favorite! One of the earliest bloomers. Peachy-pink, fluffy plumes	Mid July	20"	$8.50
	Praecox	Arching, shell pink plumes with interesting dark green leaves with red edges	July	16"	$8.50
	Professor Vander Wielen	Tall, creamy, weeping plumes	July-August	32"	$8.50
	Pumila	A great ground cover with small purple flowers. On display in several gardens inc. the lower hosta garden	August into September	10"	$8.50
	Purpurkerze	Strong, with long purple plumes	Mid to late August	3 feet	$8.50
	Radius	Red plumes above dark foliage	July	24"	$8.50	N/A
	Raspberry Pink	Bright red blooms above medium green foliage	August	18"	$8.50
	Red Sentinel	A good deep red	Late July into August	24"	$8.50
	Rhineland	Fluffy lavender plumes. Very attractive!	July-August	28"	$8.50
	Rhythum & Blues	Clear pink blooms above dark green foliage	July-August	28"	$8.50
	Rock & Roll	Pure white flowers with dark green/bronze foliage	July-August	24"	$8.50
	Sister Theresa	Fluffy, compact pink plumes on a compact plant. Nice with short Oriental lilies or the daylily Chicago Picotee Lace.	LateJuly	15"	$8.50
	Snowdrift	An excellent white with light green foliage	Late July early August	24"	$8.50
	Spinell	One of the best deep reds for late bloom. Plant with daylilies Pandora's Box, Siloam Pink Glow or Joan Senior	July/August	24"	$8.50
	Sprite	Light rosy pink airy blooms on dark green foliage. Slow to start, then an eye catcher!	July-August	12"	$8.50
	Straussenfederer	Ostrich plume. George's favorite!! Rose colored weeping plumes with a very natural look. Moonbeam Coreopsis is good company	July	36"	$8.50
	Superba	Large, spiky purple blooms that flower all of August here. Quite rapid spreader. Loved by flower bees and butterflies. Match with liatris, coneflower & Oriental lilies	All August here	4 feet	$8.50
	Veronica Close	Dark purple rose blooms with clump forming habit and dwarf foliage	August	14"-16"	$8.50	N/A
	Vesuvius	Reddish-pink blooms on bronze green foliage. Couple mature examples in hosta garden by the little frog pond	Late June to mid July	24"-28"	$8.50
	Visions	Sweet scented purple blooms with bronze green foliage. One of the best astilbes available today because of bloom time, color, durability and size.	Late July though most all of August here	18"	$8.50
	Visions in Pink	Strong, upright, lavender pink blooms	July	18"	$8.50
	Visions In Red	Upright, deep purplish red blooms with bronze-green foliage	July/August	15"-18"	$8.50
	Washington	Delicate creamy white bloom	Early July	24"	$8.50
	Weise Gloria	Very full, white, stocky plumes	July into August	24"	$8.50
	William Buchanan	Creamy white, wispy blooms above dark green foliage. A small variety.	August	8-10"	$8.50