Practical
Plants

Astilbe chinensis

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Astilbe
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.7 m
Spread
0.5 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

Young shoots[2]. No more details are given.

Plant part
Leaves

Material uses

A first class ground cover plant, the lower-growing cultivar 'Pumila' is particularly recommended[5].

Environment

Range
E. Asia - E. China, Japan, Korea.
Habitat
Damp woods and along shady streams[3]. Open broad-leaved forests, forest edges and amongst shrubs[7]. Forests, forest margins, meadows, valleys and riversides, 400 - 3600 metres[6].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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[4]. 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.

Cultivation

Prefers a rich garden soil, but succeeds in most soils so long as they stay reliably moist in the summer[1][5]. Requires a wet or moist peaty soil in sun or partial shade[3], growing well under shrubs[5]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 to 7[4]. Prefers partial shade[4], especially if the soil is on the dry side[5]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[3]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[5]. There are some named varieties, selected for their ornamental value[5].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  3. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  6. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

  7. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

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