Pumila Spirea, Chinese Astilbe
Astilbe chinensis
Family: Saxifragaceae
What it is like
Bloom Color: Pink, White. Main Bloom Time: Late summer. Form: Upright or erect.
Astilbe chinensis is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.7 m (2ft 4in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist or wet soil.
Height (m): 0.7
Where it is found
Damp woods and along shady streams. Open broad-leaved forests, forest edges and amongst shrubs. Forests, forest margins, meadows, valleys and riversides, 400 - 3600 metres.
E. Asia - E. China, Japan, Korea.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
Young shoots. No more details are given.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 3
Landscape Uses: Border, Container, Massing, Rock garden, Woodland garden. There are some named varieties, selected for their ornamental value. A first class ground cover plant, the lower-growing cultivar 'Pumila' is particularly recommended. Special Features:Attractive foliage, Suitable for dried flowers. Dynamic accumulator.
Dynamic accumulator: Plants that gather minerals or nutrients from the soil and store them in a more bioavailable form and in high concentration in their tissues. Used as fertilizer or to improve mulch.
How it is grown
Prefers a rich garden soil, but succeeds in most soils so long as they stay reliably moist in the summer. Requires a wet or moist peaty soil in sun or partial shade, growing well under shrubs. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 to 7. Prefers partial shade, especially if the soil is on the dry side. Plants are hardy to about -20°c. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits. There are some named varieties, selected for their ornamental value.
Propagating it: Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in early spring. Only just cover the seed. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame until they are at least 20cm tall. Plant them out in the summer, or late in the following autumn. Division in spring. This is best done every 3 - 4 years in order to maintain the vigour of the plant. Larger divisions can be planted straight into their permanent positions whist smaller clumps are best potted up and kept in a cold frame until they are growing away well.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Bog Garden;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 4-8
Growth: Medium
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade
Moisture: Moist, wet