Astilbe 'Heart and Soul'

Astilbe 'Heart and Soul': Lavender-Pink Overtime Into September

Airy, branched lavender-pink plumes that keep blooming long after other astilbes have clocked out. 'Heart and Soul' gives the shade garden everything it's got. ALL IN, ALL SUMMER.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Astilbe chinensis 'Heart and Soul'
• Common Name: False Spirea, Chinese Astilbe
• Height: 75 cm (30 in) in bloom
• Spread: 45–50 cm (18–20 in)
• Flowers: Airy, branched plumes of lavender-pink to light purple
• Bloom Time: Midsummer to early fall (July to September)
• Foliage: Green, fern-like, finely divided leaves
• Features: Long bloom season

Where to Plant: Plant it in the middle of a shade border to stretch colour into late summer. It's good in moist woodland beds and damp clay, and a group of three or five makes a soft cloud of colour.

Companion Plants: Plant 'Heart and Soul' in a moist, shady bed with dark leaves and a tall yellow accent behind. Carex pensylvanica carpets the front at 15 to 30 cm with fine, arching blades. Heuchera Dressed Up® 'Evening Gown' adds ruffled dark foliage at 30 to 36 cm. Hosta 'Liberty' brings wide gold-edged leaves at 40 to 45 cm. Ligularia 'The Rocket' rises behind at 120 to 180 cm with lemon-yellow spires in July and August.

Plant Care: Plant in part shade in rich, moisture-retentive soil. Chinese astilbes cope with a short dry spell a bit better than most, but regular water in dry weather keeps the leaves fresh. Mulch helps. Leave the plumes standing over winter and cut back in early spring. Divide every three to four years in spring to keep it vigorous.

History: 'Heart and Soul' was bred by Dutch astilbe specialist Harrie Verduin in Heemskerk, the Netherlands, from a 1999 cross between two Astilbe chinensis selections, and introduced through Witteman & Co. It shares its naming style with other Verduin astilbes such as 'Diamonds and Pearls'.

Final Thoughts: Plant it in moist shade and let the pollinators drop by. Deer pass. LOVE THAT DOESN'T QUIT AT HALFTIME.