How to grow astilbe

Astilbe · false spirea, false goat's beard

Astilbe (Astilbe) — a moisture-loving perennial with fern-like leaves, often bronze in spring, and feathery plumes of tiny white, pink, red or mauve flowers in summer; A. × arendsii hybrids reach 60–150 cm. The dried plumes stay ornamental into winter. Astilbe grows best in partial shade. Water it about every 3 days while it grows.

Updated: October 28, 2026

When to plant astilbe?

It tolerates light frost: plant divisions into the bed about three weeks before your last spring frost.

It flowers about 78 days after growth starts and keeps flowering for about 30 days.

Frost dates · When to plant

Quick facts

Type	Flower
Latin name	Astilbe
Family	Saxifragaceae
Also called	false spirea, false goat's beard
Planted as	divisions
Life span	perennial
Planting season	spring
Light	Partial shade
Frost	tolerates light frost
Soil for planting	from 5 °C
First flowers	78 days after growth starts
Flowering lasts	30 days
Grown in	Open ground

How long does astilbe take from planting to flowering?

From planting to the first flowers: about 78 days, or 11 weeks.

Step	Day
Planting	0
Growth starts	0
First flowers	78
End of flowering	108

Days count from the day of sowing or planting, by the figures of the card.

Where does astilbe grow?

26,267 records of the plant in gardens, fields and the wild worldwide; most photos come from United States, China, Taiwan, Russia, and Japan.

World map: where astilbe has been recorded — Darker green means more records. Photos are real observations from those countries — tap one to see it. Map and records: GBIF.org (2026-10-28), © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap. Photo: Hoyti Bus, Sakern | 永隔一江水, Tatyana Petrenko, -581651292, Øystein Folden, Daniel Cahen (CC BY / CC0).

Astilbe, United States — Darker green means more records. Photos are real observations from those countries — tap one to see it. Map and records: GBIF.org (2026-10-28), © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap. Photo: Hoyti Bus, Sakern | 永隔一江水, Tatyana Petrenko, -581651292, Øystein Folden, Daniel Cahen (CC BY / CC0).

Astilbe care by growth stage

Open ground

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 3 days	—	—
Flowering	every 3 days	—	—

Growing notes

Light

Light shade suits it best, with shade in the hottest part of the day; in a very sunny spot the leaves scorch and the soil dries out fast. It also grows in full shade.

Soil

Rich, humus-rich soil that never dries out, ideal beside a pond or stream or in a bog garden, but not waterlogged. A compost mulch in summer helps keep the soil moist.

Care

Plant in spring or autumn and water generously two or three times a week through the first growing season; afterwards water whenever the soil is dry 2.5 cm down, with a long soak. In rich moist soil it needs no feeding. Leave the faded plumes for winter interest and cut stems and old leaves to the ground in late winter, before new shoots appear. Divide clumps in spring every three to four years. Only dwarf kinds (30–90 cm) suit containers, and they need watering all season. Brown, scorched leaves mean drought; notched leaf edges are vine weevil.

Pests and diseases of Astilbe

3 problems are recorded for astilbe; each has a page with symptoms, treatment and prevention.

Diseases

Cercospora leaf spot

Pests

Other plants of the Saxifragaceae family

Astilbe belongs to Saxifragaceae; 1 other plant of this family has a guide here.

HeucheraHeuchera

Plant lists it is in

Part of: Garden flowers · Perennial garden flowers · Flowers for shade

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.