Colors of Astilbes

Description

• Known as companion plants to impatiens and ferns, astilbe plants are natives of the Far East and are easy to maintain. Astilbes do well in full and partial shade and feature dark green, glossy, fernlike foliage. The stems are stiff and full of blooms, and can grow from 6 inches to 5 feet tall, though this perennial does not require staking to grow vertically. Abstilbes flourish in regions that feature moist, cool summers and bloom in late spring to early summer. As they require moist soil to bloom, add peat moss if the planting area is not loamy enough.

Red

• Red is one of the hues astilbe comes in. This shade can be paired with assorted white flowers as a holiday centerpiece. As with all astilbe, red-blooming versions work as a garden plant or in floral arrangements. Use red in combination with other astilbe colors or its companion flowers, including impatiens, Japanese iris, trilliums, Siberian iris and ferns.

Pink

• Solid pink is another common astilbe hue -- think bubblegum pink rather than pastel or hot pink tones. Combine pink astilbe with off-white flowers as one arrangement option, or use it as filler in arrangements featuring pink flowers. Another option is to pair it with orangish-yellow flowers, such as ligularia, another companion plant of astilbe. Use pink astilbe to celebrate the birth of a baby girl born in the late spring or as part of an Easter flower arrangement. Use it as a border around a garden path in the spring and early summer, as well.

Lavender

• Astilbe also comes in lavender, another springtime color that works well in spring-themed arrangements or garden beds. Use it in combination with real lavender to make a vertical vase arrangement or pair it with white flowers, such as white trillium. Lavender astilbe can also work with the dark purple Japanese iris for a purple-themed floral arrangement.

White

• White is the final color astilbe is found in, as of the time of publication. Use it in holiday or springtime arrangements. Pair it in the garden with hostas, a squat, oval-leafed green plant. As white goes with just about any flower color, there is no limit to what you can do with white astilbe, whether in the garden or in floral arrangements. Use it as filler, pair it with other brush flowers or create a sea of white flowers in combination with other perennials in your garden.