Anyone Like Astilbes?

I did a whole hill in astibles, all different kinds. I thought you might like to see pictures of them.
Debbie

Astilbes 2

What a lovely soft patch. Truely special.

Thanks,
Debbie

Hey that looks fantastic! I love them! I only have 2 myself because my yard is so small - however I love the idea of having them planted that way - great job!

Nice idea - it looks great! How long did it take to fill in that much?

Very nice, Debbie. I love astilbes.

I've been working on it for about ten years. I purchased a couple every year & divided other ones as they became large. I just did another hill with them in the back yard - very shady hill. I'll post some pictures of the back hill.

Back yard hill - before

Back Yard Hill - After 1

Back Yard Hill - After 2
I've been working on this hill for about three years.
Hope you like it.
PS. I'm also trying to mix in Jack In The Pulpits that I find in the woods around my house. Also please do not look at the weeds. I'm going to weed it today.
Debbie

This message was edited Jul 1, 2008 8:42 AM

I love fencing too! Really nice job.

Hi Debbie, I love Astilbes too, I have such a shady backyard and among the hostas and ferns, that seems to be one of the loveliest flowers you can grow on a shady bed. Congrats on your hill, looks gorgeous! Clemen

Thanks for comments.
Debbie

pretty... I love them!

Hi Debbie--your "Astillbe Hill" is just lovely. I love them too. My question for you is: when do you divide them? In the Fall? After bloom? I have a shady border and the astillbes I put in two years ago are getting too large for the space (I also have some bearded iris that need to be divided--I'm a novice at this, too.)
Thanks!

Beautiful Debbie! I love astilbes. This is my first year with them and they bloomed their heads off. Now I have plans for more. I like your idea!

That's gorgeous Emily. Your yard hardly looks like you're a novice to me. On a side note: It was great seeing you at the RU!!

beautiful gardens CC Gardnr.
I am an astilbe fan too and would like to know who has the largest variety "online" Looking for dwarfs.

JoAnn:
Look for Astilbe chinensis var. pumila or A. simplicifolia 'Sprite' in the DG PlantFiles for dwarf varieties.
There are other cultivars of A. chinensis and A. x arendsii like 'Finale', and 'Serenade' which are smaller than the usual 24 inch plants.

I have gotten a lot of Astilbes from Bluestone, but BigDipper and LazyS also have large selections. I was just checking them last week because I am planning a large shade garden and Astilbe's can bring some nice color into even medium shaded areas.

Emily:
You can divide in spring or fall. Make sure each division has several "growing points". Large drifts of 7 or more plants are better than just a couple, as Debbie shows above.

Thanks Don.
I'll check them out as soon as my new credit card comes. Just got hacked after answering questions on a FREE credit report site, never got to give my credit card number, don't know how they did it.What a mess. Brent and Beckys will be surprised.The other charges were all from some greasy teenager,Itunes own load, cosmetics,etc,The pay period had just closed, so not too many new charges from me.

Gorgeous astilbe everyone...I noted that Emily has her's with Iris? I was curious...as iris needs sun, and Astilbe likes shade? How does that work out...We just bought some astilbe plants this year...haven't put them in their final resting place yet? so curious how much sun or shade do they like..
I saw an article in Marther Stewarts magazine of all Astilbe and Hosta together...they were stunning...
GOSH ISN'T GARDENING FUN... although my checkbook says they need a GA (Gardeners Anonymus) for those of us who feel we NEED ONE OR MORE OF EVERY PLANT THERE IS

I would have to join Gardeners Anonymus. It seems every couple of years I get into one particular plant and have to purchase everone of them I can find. This year its Heucheras. I purchased twenty-two, even some doubles. One year it was Astibles, Oriental Lilies, Asiatic Liles, OT Lilies, BeeBalm, & etc.
As far as dividing Astilbes. There are more expert gardeners that could probaly advise you better but, here goes. I dig the plant up in the Spring (before it has a lot of growth). Take the plant totally out of the ground - divide it in half. Replant the parent in the same place, surround it with new dirt if required. Take the off- spring to a new location & plant it. I chose the Spring to give the plant time to adjust to it new location. I was a trial & error gardener for years - just kept track of what lived and what died. I just found Dave's garden a couple of years ago & have found out so much I was doing wrong. My plants are a lot happier & more are living. I really don't know much about Bearded Irises - I would go the forum. For years I was covering the rhizomes with dirt & had them in the shade & wondered why they didn't flower.
Debbie

What a great idea! I love it.

Hi JWLW (it was great to meet you both at the RU!!--and you, too, Harper)
I think it was mostly beginner's luck. The iris in my earlier photo receives more sun because it's just on the edge of the tree shadows that appear mid-day. I have another area nearby in more sun which I also ignorantly planted with bearded iris, astilbe, and daylilies together two years ago when I was really new at this! It's a little hard to tell from the photo below but the astilbes that are the fullest are those on the far left, where they are shaded for part of the day by an evergreen. The irises in this area get sun almost all day (this photo was taken at 9 am). The other astilbes in the middle of the border receive more sun but they also get enough moisture from my lawn sprinklers that they do OK.
And thanks so much, Debbie and Don, for the helpful information on dividing my astilbes. You guys are the best.

WOW That really is a great border.

. . . here's the irises in that border in late May. The astilbes are still just coming back from their winter rest.

Love your astilbe hillside Debbie. Astilbes are so nice, I wish the flowers lasted a little longer but the fern-like foliage is pretty all on its own.
Beautiful borders CCG. Love the rocks.

Wow, so pretty I never really like astibles until I saw them at Longwood Gardens.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=4970204
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=4971086
Now they're on my want list.

those are beautiful,love the purples with the lacecap.

Yes, I need some purple ones. They look nice near the pinks. Jen, do you know what hydrangea that was? Uncommon color.

Flowerjen-do you know what astilbes you took pictures of, I want them!
l love astibles because they get beautiful color in the shade. My yard is mostly shaded & any where I can get color, I do. This could be wrong-but someone said/or I read - that astilbes provide food for birds in the winter, thus I leave the dead plants till spring. Thus, I only remove the the dead plants in the spring. Does anyone know if this is true. I hope so.
Thanks for the wonderful comments.
Debbie

Here's the hydrangea name
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=4970207

Thanks, Jen!

No problem, Victor.
Debbie, I'm still trying to find what astibles they are.

flowerjen - I know exactly what you mean - for years I thought all lilies were a like, then I figured out on my own- mind you- that there were asiatics & orientals. I purchased blubs for years never knowing much about lilies & the different types or their care. I even for years cut down the stems after they flowered, & thought all lilies were fragrant. I purchased what I thought was pretty. Last year I found Dave's Garden. I went to the lily forum & learned & I'm learning all the time. I must say I think my lilies are happier. I also can't believe the difference on where you purchase the blubs.
Debbie

Thanks for that post Debbi
I am like you and only learned to tell the difference betweenOrientals and Asiatics by their leaves and height.
DL's are a different matter. Now that I know about Liquid Fence I am planning more lilies here(new house last year)
I will go to the Lily Forum for further knowlege.
I buy my bulbs from B&D Lilies also known as Snowey Creek.Huge selection.

get1836,
If you love lilies some of the best sites to purchase lily blubs from, I've found from the lily forum are Buggy Crazy (opens her site in August), Faraway Flowers (not sure when they open up), & The Lily Garden (not sure either.) B & D Lilies is also considered a very good site to buy blubs ( as you already know). One of the very best is Buggy Crazy. A close kept secret by lily lovers. I've learned so much from the lily forum I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Debbie

Thanks Debbu, I'll keep a look out on those sites, already have an order in to B&D.

You are very welcome.
Debbie