This plant appeared in Europe more than two centuries ago, but even now it does not cease to be the most necessary attribute of a shady garden. Together with its companion - the host, annual calendula and marigolds, it usually begins to create a garden. And for gardeners, this plant is simply an invaluable find. After all, there are not so many flowers in the world that dream to settle in secluded corners, where a lacy shadow predominates, and the soil is more moist and rich. We are talking about astilbe - a beautiful plant of the Saxifrage family, a native of Japan - the country of the rising sun.
Astilba: planting, care, reproduction
Astilba is a fairly well-known decorative plant in our area, suitable for planting as a border plant or in mixborders. It looks great in both regular and landscape gardens, as it retains decorativeness during the season and blooms for a long time. This is a grassy rhizome perennial up to a meter high. It blooms from July to September with small white, pink, red or lilac flowers, collected in panicles.
In floriculture, there are now more than 200 varieties of astilbe: Arends, Thunberg, David, Chinese, Korean, Japanese. Varieties vary in height: from low - less than half a meter, to high - more than 1 m. They are varied in color: from white to purple. And also vary in shape and density of inflorescences, leaf color and flowering time.
We will understand now where a beautiful astilbe can grow. Planting, plant care do not require much trouble. In one place, the bush has been growing for over ten years. Most varieties are frost-resistant. The plant is shade tolerant, prefers moist, loose, slightly acidic soils. And, if there is an empty shady corner in the garden where no other cultures survive, it will be happy to be occupied by astilba.
Propagation of the plant is a simple matter. It is best to propagate it by dividing the bush in early spring (or September) or by grafting in August. You can grow from seeds, but seedlings usually do not retain varietal characteristics. The best time to divide is spring or autumn. From a rhizome of astilbe cut a small, 10 centimeters piece, on which there must be at least one kidney of renewal. Planted immediately. Sleeping buds will awaken even on a piece of rhizome without shoots. Chinese astilbe, having a dwarf form, is easier to propagate by root offspring, growing in abundance near the mother bush.
In breeding work, seed reproduction is used. Very small astilbe seeds are sown in greenhouses in February, not sprinkled with earth, because they need light to germinate. Seedlings appear in a couple of weeks, and adult plants bloom in almost three to four years.
Since astilba can tolerate a transplant even in a flowering state, you can buy it with inflorescences, only when planting they need to be cut. Before planting, the soil is well treated, enriched with useful substances, peat or ash is added to it.
If an astilba appears on the site, care for it will consist of timely, carefully regulated watering. She loves moisture, especially if planted in the sun. Without proper watering, the astilbe loses its decorative effect: the tips of the leaves and stems dry out. But increased humidity has a beneficial effect on it: it grows and develops well. Over time, the rhizome of the astilbe is exposed. Therefore, it is necessary to either regularly divide the plant, or add fresh soil under it.
A striking example of shade-loving plants is astilba. Planting, care and agricultural technology should take into account this feature of this culture. Although individual cultivars are uncomfortable in a dense shade, it is therefore necessary to carefully study each variety before planting a plant on the site.
Although the plant is frost-resistant, if possible for the winter it is necessary to cover it with spruce branches. Our winters are not so afraid of her as a cold, unstable spring. In spring, the astilbe emerges from the earth early, and the icy cold is very harmful to young leaves. They, of course, will grow back, but this is an additional stress for the plant. Therefore, in the spring it is recommended to cover the bushes with non-woven material. If you carry out this simple procedure, the result will be a magnificent and healthy astilbe.
Planting, care and reproduction of this culture are simple procedures. Although, of course, like any plant, astilba requires attention. It is a good idea to mulch the soil between the bushes with pine needles, compost or other organic material.
Among the varieties of astilbe, you can find more than a dozen snow-white, red, lilac, slightly yellowish and pinkish or slightly beige. Every year, breeders create modern varieties of this plant, so that the conveyor of the income of the beautiful astilbe to our garden will never stop.