Astilbe

Reliable Astilbe for Sale at Nature Hills Nursery

Turn a dim corner of your lot into a great-looking garden feature with beloved Astilbe plants. These glamorous flowering plants boost the visual appeal of partial shade, and you’ll find an elegant selection of Astilbe for sale right here at Nature Hills Nursery.

Astilbes are late-spring and summer-flowering perennials with plume-like flowers that can tolerate full sun only in the cool northern growing zones. However, they'll perform better and produce brighter, longer-lasting flowers in a shady location.

No need to miss the color that sun-loving plants bring. Astilbe can stop you in your tracks with outstanding feathery plumes that rise high above the lustrous, fern-like foliage.

Electric violet, pink blooms, red, purple, and Arctic white plumes are among the most popular colors. Each fine-textured, feathery bloom remains beautiful for many weeks.

Look closely to see their tiny true flowers held in pyramidal inflorescences. Their blooms rise high above the clump of finely cut foliage.

The foliage is very attractive, so the plants add delightful color to the shady gardens of North America. This is true, even after the decorative flowers are no longer blooming.

People mass plant them to fill in the boundary of their woodland plantings. They also use Astilbe underneath deep-rooted shade trees.

High-Quality Perennial Astilbe Plants for Sale

Astilbe plants range in height from one to four feet tall. There are hundreds of cultivars now being produced that combine the feathery flower spikes with many foliage colors and flower color combinations.

Victorians used to carry lavish Astilbe blooms down the aisle as wedding bouquets as a symbol of their devotion. You'll be just as proud of yourself for growing these spectacular blooms as a reward.

Ultra-feminine, intricate Astilbe blooms look so pretty and vivacious in a mixed shade garden border. Their bronzed green foliage is both lacy and stiff, a fantastic contrast.

Include them with other shade-loving perennials from Nature Hills Nursery. Jazz up a foundation of Hosta with smaller Tiarella and robust Astilbe for good looks all season long.

Because people love Astilbes so much, they've been given plenty of common nicknames. You might hear Astilbe called False Spirea, Feather Flower, Meadowsweet, and False Goat’s Beard.

Astilbe Varieties Grow Well in Shade

Astilbe is one of the most alluring shade-loving plants. Our wide-ranging online selection of astilbe varieties displays a diversity of foliage and flower colors.

Choose a mass planting of your favorite color. Or mix things up with a repeating pattern of different colors.

Create a very natural look with a collection of Astilbe varieties planted in curving waves of color. Choose complementary or contrasting colors to suit your fancy.

One of the hardiest perennial plants, count on reliable Astilbe to come back for years and years. You'll be astounded the first time you see their three-foot-tall spires in full bloom, and so will your garden guests.

However you style your space, you'll be thrilled with their performance. Astilbe plumes look like a scaled-down version of Pampas Grass, and they are nearly as tough.

Create Showy Cut Flower Arrangements with Astilbe Colors

Dense plumes appear in late spring and early summer. With proper care, the feather blooms remain showy for weeks on end.

Some people choose to trim off the spent blooms. Do that easy task a little early, and enjoy them indoors as cut flowers. The soft texture and striking display of astilbe colors create head-turning cut flower arrangements every time.

Snip one, three, five, or seven blooms for use as a bouquet indoors in a wide vase. Stabilize your arrangement with lots of foliage filler, and you'll add interesting contrast, too.

For long-lasting dried flowers, hang Astilbe blooms upside down for several months to dry. Give each feathery flower good air circulation and check them periodically during the process.

Of course, you can also leave your Astilbe blooms to dry on your outdoor plants. You'll gain welcome vertical height with the season's blooms left in place to accent your chaise in the shade.

Yes, You Can Grow Astilbe in Containers

Add perennials to hardy containers for a look that comes back year after year. Astilbe was born to play the thriller role.

Get 365 Gorgeous Days with Hardy Container Gardens >>

Decorate built-in planters under your pergola or in a bathhouse. Try them in wide, deep pots on your north-facing patio.

We recommend a planter that is at least 20 inches across to accommodate their mature spread. Deep containers are good, as they have stout roots to accommodate.

Use a good-quality potting soil designed for ericaceous plants, and ensure your pot has good drainage holes. Container-grown Astilbe will need frequent watering to keep them happy.

Read About the Right Way to Water New Plants >>

Container plants need fertilizer on a regular basis, too. Choose a formula for acid-loving, ericaceous plants and follow the directions on your package for the most effective application.

Raise your pot on clay feet to ensure the water drains out of the container quickly. Drill extra holes in your pot, if you can.

Astilbes Bring Pollinators to Your Victory Garden

Use a long row of Astilbe flowers in the shade of your garden shed. Both ornamental and useful, Astilbe flowers hold wide appeal to butterflies and essential pollinators.

Each fine-textured, feathery bloom remains beautiful for many weeks. Look closely to see their tiny true flowers held in pyramidal inflorescences.

If you are one of the many millions of Americans growing your own fruit trees and bushes these days, flowering perennials like Astilbe are a wise investment.

You'll easily spruce up your hard-working utilitarian areas with these gorgeous blooms. Of course, you'll also increase your yields with more pollinators in your yard, especially for late-blooming Apple and Cherry trees.

Astilbe attracts both butterflies and hummingbirds, and they’ll visit each flower many times a day. Set up a handsome seating area nearby so you can rest and relax while enjoying your thoughtful choices.

Planting and Care Guide for Extraordinary Astilbe

Before You Plant

When your Nature Hills Nursery package arrives, open it right away and give your Astilbe a long, refreshing drink. Proper hydration from the start helps your plants establish strong roots and thrive. For even better results, follow our watering tips to keep your plants healthy from day one.

Choosing the Perfect Spot

Astilbe brings brilliant color to shady spots, brightening your garden with soft, feathery plumes. If you’re designing a cool and calming retreat, it’s a perfect addition to a meditation garden or any shaded border.

• Sunlight: Aim for 2 to 4 hours of sunlight daily.
  
  
• Shade tip: Too much shade can limit blooms, while too much sun can fade the color. Afternoon shade helps keep the flowers rich and vibrant.
  

Tough, Adaptable, and Hardy

These cold-hardy perennials perform beautifully across a wide range of climates. Not sure of your growing zone? Type your ZIP code into the Zone Finder above the Plant Highlights section on any product page.

Good news for wildlife-heavy areas: Deer and rabbits usually avoid Astilbe. If browsing pressure is high, a repellent spray offers extra protection, especially when paired with a low-maintenance garden design.

How to Plant

Get step-by-step guidance in our Planting Perennials Guide to ensure your Astilbe gets the best possible start.

1. Dig the hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper.
   
   
2. Amend the soil with organic matter to improve drainage and nutrients. Try adding compost to enrich your soil naturally.
   
   
3. Add Nature Hills Root Booster to strengthen the roots and improve nutrient absorption.
   
   
4. Water thoroughly after planting.
   

Watering and Mulching

Keep the soil consistently moist for best performance. Astilbe does not tolerate dry conditions well.

• Do not let the soil dry out completely.
  
  
• Apply a 3-inch layer of mulch over the root zone to help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. Learn more about using mulch in your garden.
  
  
• Reapply mulch as needed throughout the growing season.
  

Feeding and Maintenance

• Fertilize: Use a slow-release flower fertilizer in early spring and follow package directions for reapplication.
  
  
• Pruning: Leave the old foliage through winter to protect the crown, then trim it back in early spring before new growth emerges. Explore why renewal pruning benefits perennials like Astilbe.
  

Why Gardeners Love Astilbe

Since 2001, Nature Hills Nursery has proudly shipped high-quality plants to home gardeners and landscape designers across the country. What began as a small conifer farm in the Midwest has blossomed into America’s largest online nursery, trusted for premium plants and expert care.

Order Early Before They’re Gone

Astilbe is one of the most popular shade-loving perennials, and varieties often sell out quickly. Place your order anytime, and we will ship when planting conditions are right for your area.

If you find an Astilbe that captures your heart, don’t wait. Bring home this stunning perennial today and enjoy its brilliant blooms year after year.