Astilbe arendsii Hyazinth

Astilbe x arendsii Hyazinth (Hyacinth) offers late summer flowering, with beautiful upright panicles in a pretty pale pink turning mauve-lavender and carried by reddish stems. In autumn, these inflorescences take on a brown hue and remain decorative through winter or in dried bouquets. These feathery panicles stand out well against large, dark green, deeply lobed leaves, which are tinged with red and very decorative when they emerge in spring. This bog-loving perennial decorates the surroundings of a pond, or wet areas of the garden for many years.

The Genus Astilbe belongs to the Saxifragaceae family. The variety 'Hyazinth' is part of a series of hybrids created by Georg Arends through cross-breeding between A. chinensis, A. astilboides, A. japonica and A. thunbergii. It is a rhizomatous and spreading perennial, with an upright and bushy habit. The plant will reach a height of 60-70 cm (24-28in) in flower, spreading over 40 to 60 cm (16 to 24in). It is a long-lived perennial, with deciduous foliage composed of toothed, dark green, glossy leaflets which are particularly attractive. Flowering occurs from July to August, in the form of very dense feathery panicles, 20 cm (8in) long and 15 cm (6in) wide, composed of tiny pink flowers that fade to lavender at maturity, before taking on a lighter brown hue. Even when faded, its inflorescences retain a beautiful structure, making this variety ornamental in winter.

Indispensable perennials for compact, heavy, wet and marshy soils, astilbes are very resistant to cold, never get sick and live for a long time. Astilbe 'Hyazinth' can easily be grown in pots, flower beds and borders, or used as cut flowers for drying. It also thrives in woodland, around a pond or in a hedge, in humus-rich soil which is moist and deep. Combine them with Hostas, Ferns, Arums, or Goat's Beard for example. These plants can be forced in a greenhouse for early flowering.

Arends' astilbe hybrids present less risk of allergies than other varieties.