Astilbe arendsii Diamant

Astilbe thrives in partial shade, you can plant it in gentle sunlight, but avoid the hot midday sun. It is a trouble-free plant. Plant it in spring or autumn in moist, well-drained soil, rich in organic matter. It prefers fertile soils. You can put it in a marshy area but not in chalky soil as it is susceptible to drying out. To plant, work the soil well in an area of 20 cm (8in) and place a base fertiliser at the bottom of the planting hole. Remove your plant from its pot and position covering the top of the root ball with 3 cm (1in) of soil. Then fill in and water thoroughly to remove any air pockets. In dry weather, water regularly for a few weeks to aid rooting. Astilbe requires very little maintenance, just keep the soil moist and add compost and fertilizer in spring. In winter the flowers and young foliage can be damaged by spring frosts. After flowering, cut back the flower stems to encourage the foliage. In November, cut the plants back to around 10 cm (4in). Resistant to slugs, it can be susceptible to powdery mildew and fungal spots.