Plant Astilbe Top Choice Cake Mix bulbs before the first frost in fall, and enjoy their continuous bloom from early summer through the season. These rugged shade-lovers bring vibrant color to dark garden spaces with their feathery plumes, which rise above lush, fern-like foliage on stems that reach 18 to 30 inches tall. Each plume is composed of hundreds of tiny, colorful blossoms that open in succession, creating a spectacular display that draws butterflies and other pollinators to your garden. These blooms also make striking cut flowers, perfect for floral arrangements, and should be cut when they are about half-opened to ensure longevity.
These Astilbe cultivars, commonly known as false spirea, are characterized by their mounding habit and rhizomatous root system, making them ideal for grouping or mass planting in mixed beds and borders. They also excel as specimen plants, focal points, or in containers, adding texture and color to any garden design. Astilbe is a must-have for pollinator, butterfly, and cutting gardens, where their colorful plumes create an enchanting atmosphere.
For best results, plant Astilbe Top Choice Cake Mix bulbs 18 to 30 inches apart and 1.5 to 2 inches deep in a partially shaded to fully shaded spot with organically rich, evenly moist, and freely draining soil. Feeding them with Espoma Organic® Bulb-tone® Bulb and Flower Food when new growth appears will encourage vigorous blooming. Planting these bulb perennials in fall gives them a head start, helping them to grow larger and bloom more profusely in the next growing season. Astilbes thrive in cool, moist conditions and prefer to avoid the intense heat of summer. They are also naturally resistant to deer and rabbits, making them a practical choice for many gardens.
Astilbe Top Choice Cake Mix Includes:
Astilbe Black Berry Cake
Astilbe Frosty Cake
Astilbe Strawberry Cake
Astilbe Wedding Cake
