Astilbe 'Pumila'

Astilbe 'Pumila': Lavender Groundcover, Fashionably Late

Most astilbes throw a fit the second the hose goes quiet. 'Pumila' is the short, low-key cousin who brings snacks and never complains. Rosy-mauve plumes, fern-like leaves, ZERO TANTRUMS ABOUT THE WATER BILL.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Astilbe chinensis var. pumila
• Common Name: Dwarf Chinese Astilbe, False Spirea
• Height: 25–30 cm (10–12 in) in flower
• Spread: 45 cm (18 in), slowly creeping
• Flowers: Lilac-pink to rosy-mauve, in narrow, upright plumes
• Bloom Time: Late summer (August to September)
• Foliage: Dark green, deeply cut and fern-like, often tinted red or bronze
• Features: Rabbit resistant, more tolerant of dry spells than most astilbes, RHS Award of Garden Merit

Where to Plant: This is the astilbe for edging and groundcover. Plant several in a drift at the front of a shade border or between stepping stones on a woodland path. Its late flowers fill the gap after earlier bloomers finish.

Companion Plants: Brunnera macrophylla brings blue flowers in April and May, long before this low astilbe blooms. Hosta 'Fragrant Bouquet' adds broad leaves and white flowers in July and August. Cimicifuga 'Chocoholic' rises behind to 120 cm with pink spikes from August to October. All three like shade to partial shade.

Plant Care: Plant in spring or early fall in rich soil with plenty of compost. Space plants about 30–40 cm apart if you want them to knit together into a carpet. Chinese astilbes handle drier conditions better than other types, but they still look their best with steady moisture. Water during long dry spells and mulch to keep the roots cool. Cut back the old stems in late fall or early spring. Lift and divide pieces from the edge in spring to spread it around, or to refresh a clump that thins in the centre.

History: Astilbe chinensis grows wild in eastern China, Korea and parts of eastern Russia, and botanist Richard Maack first collected it in the Amur region in 1855. The dwarf var. pumila has been a garden staple for generations and holds the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Final Thoughts: Edge a shady path with a dozen and let the deer and rabbits sulk at the curb. SHORT STACK, FULL ATTITUDE.