Plant Patent: #20658.

Part of the Short and Sweet® series, this Astilbe was bred to reach a top height of just 16 inches tall. Because of its disciplined growth habit, 'Fireberry' spends all its energy on blooms, creating torch-like masses of hot pink panicles that divide the ferny foliage nicely. The blooms come on in early- to midsummer, adding a gorgeous raspberry-pink accent to the front of a shady border or any sheltered bed or container. The massed effect is stunning; use 'Fireberry' as a groundcover in shady spots or as a cluster in the woodland garden. And of course the splendid foliage is a welcome addition to the vase!

Astilbe likes part shade, rich soil, and frequent watering (especially when blooming). 'Fireberry' is no exception: give it part to full shade and even moisture to let these blooms reach their full glorious potential. Do your part, and 'Fireberry' will reward you with years of reliable beauty--especially since it is pest-resistant! It is an excellent choice for borders that receive any exposure from dappled sunlight to nearly full shade. Long-lived and low maintenance, it is a perennial to be treasured in the shade! Zones 4-9.

• Butterflies like a lot of sunlight, so locate your garden in a sunny area.
• If you live in a windy location, plant your butterfly-attracting plants near a building, fence, or hedge to protect them.
• Plant a variety of nectar-rich plants, as well as shrubs and evergreens for shelter.
• Since many butterflies and native flowering plants have co-evolved, try to put in some that are native to your area. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center provides lists of plants native to states and regions.
• Certain colors are particularly attracting to butterflies – red, yellow, pink, purple, or orange blooms that are clustered or flat-topped, with a short flower tubes are especially attractive to adult butterflies.
• Avoid using pesticides, especially around nectar-producing plants.
• Provide a shallow source of water – try a birdbath with pebbles lining the bowl.
• Place a rock in a sunny spot for butterfly basking and resting.
• Create a "puddling area" by digging a shallow hole filled with compost or manure where rainwater will collect and release essential salts and minerals.
• If you want butterflies to breed in your garden, put in some caterpillar food plants, such as parsley, milkweeds, asters, thistles, violets, clover, grasses, and Queen Anne’s Lace.
• Since butterflies need nectar throughout the entire adult phase of their lives, try to create a design that will allow for a continuous bloom – when one stops blooming, another starts.

Astilbe
Meadow Sweet

Planting:

Set out plants in spring or fall, 15 to 18 inches apart. Astilbes prefer partial to full shade, but may be grown in sun in northern areas if particular attention is paid to maintaining a constant supply of moisture, especially early in the growing season. (Failure to do this will produce poor, chlorotic, unattractive foliage.) A soil well-enriched with organic matter is essential.

Maintenance:

Astilbes are vulnerable to drought, and should be watered liberally; a year-round mulch will help retain moisture and moderate soil temperature. Other than that, and dividing established plants every few years, preferably in the fall, they are relatively care-free.

Their plumy inflorescences, even when dry, provide winter interest, so we suggest that they not be cut back until spring, prior to the onset of new growth.

Zones:

Zones various

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