Zones: 4-9 If you need to add some pizzazz to your shade garden, astilbe should be at the top of your planting list. Addition of sulfur pellets is useful in increasing the acidity of the soil. Plants should never be allowed to dry out. Dividing your astilbe should be done in late summer or early autumn. Another important note before planting: make sure to observe where the sunshine and shade fall in your garden during the spring and summer months. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. The most critical growing factor for Astilbe is water. Feathery, bright white plumes are held above rich, glossy green foliage in summer. Since astilbe plants thrive in partial to full shade, choose a suitable planting spot in your backyard. Measure a diameter of approximately 12-16 inches around the plant (or for a quick measure, you can use a 5-gallon bucket to get the right diameter), and mark it. Wait until spring to cut back. Any rhizomes showing signs of mold, rot, or decay should be discarded. This article has been viewed 15,379 times. Make sure to pay attention to which varieties you purchase at the nursery, lest you unknowingly plant a variety that may form a veritable forest. Last Updated: March 29, 2019 There are some plants that will not top six inches while others may finish their season at a whopping four feet tall – buyer beware! For more information about this amazing flower, be sure to check out some of these guides: © Ask the Experts, LLC. 1. Astilbe are shade-tolerant plants with average moisture needs. For more information on dividing astilbe plants, read on. Here is more about what we do. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Try to make sure that the mulch isn’t too thick over the top of the new transplants. Sun Requirements: Full to partial shade. You don’t need to think about transplanting astilbe or dividing astilbe plants every year, but calendar the task for every two to four years. They are very tolerant of shade and thrive in damp locations, so are ideal for placing near a pond but equally are impressive in containers or as part of a border display. Thank you for this! Once autumn and winter roll around, the light patterns will change. Alexis once managed a sizable CSA operation in Valley Center, Kansas, and her specialization is in growing high quality organic vegetables. This will help improve drainage, which is essential to the healthy growth of astilbes. The Venus variety has bright green foliage and bright pink blossoms. The central clump and thick, fleshy roots of an astilbe are tough and difficult to cut. Astilbe spp. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/eb\/Divide-Astilbe-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Divide-Astilbe-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/eb\/Divide-Astilbe-Step-1.jpg\/aid10047893-v4-728px-Divide-Astilbe-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"