Garden Plants

Popular plants: Astilbe

By Jean Stowe

The latest breed of astilbes to reach garden centres are well suited to bringing container planting schemes alive

Rose-coloured Astilbe Astary

'The fast and uniform growth of Astary means the airy, feathery flowers can be enjoyed in mixed container plantings too.'

Astilbe Astary in white

* Type of plant: summer-flowering perennial.
* Habit: vigorous and clump-forming; can be dwarf.
* Good for: waterside plantings, borders, rock gardens, cut flowers
* Conditions needed: moist, fertile soil, partial shade (some varieties will take full sun).
* Best features: textural, soft, plume-like arching sprays in a wonderful colour spectrum of both vibrant and muted shades.
* Growing tip: A rich mulch of organic matter applied in spring helps keep the soil moist, as well as fertile.

Bred in Germany, Astilbe Astary is a new series of astilbe grown from seed. While astilbes are usually associated with cool, damp soils and waterside positions, the fast and uniform growth of Astary means the airy, feathery flowers can be enjoyed in mixed container plantings too, or even as a houseplant. The bonus is that plants can go out in the garden at the end of the season

* Stocked by Nicky's Seeds.

Sold as Pronto Perennials

There are three pretty colours – rose, light rose and white. Garden centres will sell them under the Pronto Perennials brand with 10cm (4in) pots costing between £1 and £1.99.

Adapted by Sarah Brocklehurst

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