Astilbe Chinensis
Astilbe Chinensis: Growing Visions in Your Garden
Astilbe chinensis is a beautiful garden plant that is often referred to as “vision”. If the plant is purple, it is usually dubbed “vision in violet”, just as red ones are often called “vision in red”. In this article we are going to talk about the general characteristics of this flower as well as provide gardening tips for successful growth in your garden. So get ready to learn all about the next flower likely to grace your landscape!
Astilbe chinensis are quite tall plants, averaging around nine to twelve inches in total without flowers and with flowers they can grow as tall as fourteen to sixteen inches. Due to their graceful height they are often placed in areas of the garden that will use their height to advantage, such as a bordering plant or to line the side of a fence. These flowers are also great to plant if you like having your own collection of flowers to cut and store in vases to display around the house. The flowers on this plant form a pyramid-like shape in very vibrant colors. They appear so soft and fuzzy that your fingers will simply itch to feel them!
The astilbe chinensis is not a difficult plant to grow as long as you know the soil, water, temperature, and sun requirements. For optimum growth, you should plant your “Visions” in average soil in an area that gets good drainage. It’s important that the soil has good drainage because excessively wet soil could cause the roots to rot away. These plants are not very resilient against excessive heat or sunlight, therefore the area that you plant your “Visions” in should ideally receive partial shade or full shade. They do not have a large watering requirement, however you should not allow the soil to completely dry out as the “Vision’s” leaves are quite susceptible to scorching.
As far as temperature goes, these plants reportedly grow well in USDA zones four through nine, which means they grow well in many areas of the United States. In the summer, they must be kept moist to avoid the leaves drying up and turning a yucky brown color. You can expect the flowers to bloom in the late spring or early summer, so likely sometime around June. Many people prefer to cut the flowers off once they have passed through their blooming season as they do tend to take on a dry, dark-brown appearance that many find unpleasing.
When it comes down to it, the astilbe chinensis is a very low maintenance plant. They don’t often require a great deal of management because they are slow spreading and shade-friendly so they won’t have to be watered constantly. They also don’t require staking and only need to be divided every four or five years or so. You don’t have to worry about your “Visions” attracting loads of nasty pests, either. The main pests that are attracted by “Visions” are whiteflies, aphids, and spider mites, but you probably won’t have to worry much about them if they are not common pests in your area. Crown rot is a disease that you may have to keep your eye out for with this plant. You can easily spot this disease by the obvious white fungus that fans out along the base of the plant. The soil around the plant may have a reddish-brown crust and the plant itself may begin to turn yellow or wilt. If the disease is not caught fast enough, the plant will likely die. This disease can be prevented by making sure the soil is not over-watered and that it has good drainage.
So if you are looking for a garden plant that is both low maintenance yet bound to impress your neighbors, friends, and family, the astilbe chinensis is a great way to go!