Montgomery Japanese Astilbe

Deep cherry red or magenta blooms lifted about fern-like red/bronze foliage that turns dark green when mature will delight gardeners everywhere with the deep contrast between the frothy panicles and the foliage. Adaptable to either full sun or full shade, or a happy medium in between, Montgomery Japanese Astilbe will quickly prove to be a valuable resident in your wildlife, butterfly, woodland or cottage garden. A shaded stream or pond would be a lovely place to showcase these beautiful blooms. Native to China and Japan, and hardy in Zones 4-9, astilbe is a very forgiving perennial for your summer garden. Full sun, full shade, acidic, neutral or alkaline soil...the only thing they ask of you is that they are planted in a rich moist soil that is not allowed to dry out. Add deer and rabbit resistance and a light fragrance to the package and you have a lovely attention getter no matter where you plant it. Even after the blooms cease, the attractive fern-like foliage will remain dark green and provide a great contrast to plants that continue to bloom well into fall. Montgomery Japanese Astilbe Care Plant them in groups for a great show of color and texture. If planting in full sun, be sure to water frequently. If planting in full shade, realize that you will get less flowering as the sun fuels the flower production. Best case scenario, plant them in full sun with afternoon shade, such as on a woodland edge where the sun meets the shadow during the day and the shadow takes over in the afternoon. Use a well rounded fertilizer, one that has a 3-1-2 ratio would work fine, and apply at least twice a year, once in mid summer and again in the fall. Water when rainfall is inadequate. Astilbe will tolerate a wide range of soil pH so dont fret on this one. Deadheading is not required, but if you are not fond of the deep tan dried flower heads, go ahead and remove them. This will not cause a reblooming, however. Astilbe makes excellent cut flowers, and also work well as dried flowers, so dont be afraid to remove them for further enjoyment. Winterize your perennials in harsh winter regions by applying a two inch layer of mulch after the frost has started your plant into dormancy. Use caution as it can also trap too much moisture, so if you are prone to late fall and early winter rains in abundance, you may want to wait until that season has passed before mulching. Montgomery Japanese Astilbe Spacing Space astilbe 24 inches apart from other plants to give room to grow. Maturing to 24 inches wide and tall, they will then have plenty of room to allow air circulation. If you are concerned about not being able to provide enough moisture for the astilbe to be at their best in your landscape, consider container planting, using a peat moss amended soil mix for best moisture retention. A container grown plant cannot be expected to last through the winter for re-emergence in the spring, though, so plan on growing it as an annual in this circumstance. Whatever you decide to do, wherever you decide to plant it, with care, Montgomery Japanese Astilbe will be a great choice for you this spring!