Astilbe 'Opal' (× _arendsii_)

RHS Plant Profile

astilbe 'Opal'

Bogs Herbaceous Perennial

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A clump-forming perennial to about 1m tall, with glossy, mid-green, divided foliage. Small, fluffy, silvery lilac-pink flowers, densely packed in long, narrow, branching sprays, appear in mid-summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Poorly–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Saxifragaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Astilbe are rhizomatous herbaceous perennials with attractive, usually ternately divided leaves and erect plume-like panicles of tiny white, pink or purple flowers in summer. The old, brown flower-heads remain attractive in autumn
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist, fertile, humus-rich soil in full sun, or in partial shade if soil is likely to dry out in the summer. Plants must be divided every three to four years to maintain vigour

Propagation

Propagate by division in late winter or early spring, pot divisions under glass and plant out in late spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds
Cut flowers

Pruning

Can cut back after flowering, or delay until spring as faded flower spikes can remain attractive in autumn and winter

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to Powdery mildews and leaf scorch in hot sun