Astilbe arendsii Spinell

Astilbe x arendsii 'Spinell' is one of the largest red hybrids. Its early flowering in long crimson panicles will brighten up the surroundings of water features, moist areas of the garden, or a large container on the terrace. Its feathery plume-like panicles remain very attractive in dried flower arrangements and the foliage takes on beautiful hues in autumn. Suitable for moist soils.

'Spinell' Astilbe is a perennial plant with a dense crown, which forms an upright clump in spring. It is one of the many hybrids created in Germany by Georg Arends, obtained from four species native to the Far East (A. astilboides, A. davidii, A. japonica, A. thunbergii). The plant will reach 90 cm (35in) in height when in flower and will spread over 50 to 70 cm (20 to 28in).
This large astilbe forms a bushy clump and is a long-lived plant, with deciduous compound foliage and dentate dark green leaflets. Flowering occurs from late spring to early summer, in the form of large feathery panicles, 25 cm (10in) long, composed of tiny, soft, bright carmine-red flowers.

'Spinell' Astilbe can easily be grown in a container, as a bog plant, in a flower bed, as a border plant, and used as cut or dried flowers. It can also be grown in a woodland setting, in a hedge, and of course in a flowerbed. Combine with Hostas, Ferns (Athyrium filix-femina), Arums, Beardtongue, and Queen of the Meadows (Schizostylis coccinea 'Major') and Filipendula rubra ‘Venusta'. These plants can be forced in a greenhouse to obtain early flowering.

Arends hybrids have a lower risk of causing allergies, compared with other Astilbes. In Asia, dried leaves are sometimes used as a substitute for tea, and the young stems are cooked and eaten.