Astilbe 'Fanal' - Red Hybrid Astilbe

It can be difficult to find a beautiful plant that grows in both full sun or full shade. As someone with personal experience in a shady gardens I know it is easy to tire of hostas, ferns, and more hostas. If you have shady areas and have not tried or heard of Astilbe, this may be the plant for you.

The 'Fanal' selection of hybrid astilbe is known for its red blooms that appear in early summer. However, its blooms are less like flowers than they are cloud formations or geometric works of art and astilbe can easily add striking texture to an ordinary garden. The red coloration is outstanding on its own, but also benefits from complex multi-lobe foliage that highlight the coloration  In addition to being beautiful the flowers are also fragrant and quite pollinator friendly.

General care for any tree or shrub is easy, but like any living thing will require your attention. Please educate yourself and follow these simple rules.

Astilbe 'Fanal' - Red Hybrid Astilbe

Astilbe is most productive in rich soil high in organic matter and dappled sunlight. They can grown in full shade, but will not bloom prolifically. In a shady garden they can be successful if placed in an area that receives a periodic patches of sunlight through the day. Although they are relatively easy to grow, Astilbes can be water hogs. They are plants that must have consistently moist soil and grow well in areas that support ferns and hostas, where sunlight is present, but doesn't throughly dry the soil out. For this reason, they benefit greatly from mulching and regular organic matter added to the soil. Fertilization is best done with a slow release fertilizer spread in late February and prior to fertilization mulch or compost should be refreshed.