Astilbe Color Flash

Astilbe 'Color Flash', also known as Astilbe 'Beauty of Ernst', is a new hybrid variety as attractive for its variegated green and burgundy-red foliage, which takes on magnificent shades in autumn, as it is for its large panicles of small pink-red to beige flowers in summer. This hardy perennial astilbe tolerates full sun in consistently moist soil. It is ideal for adding a touch of charm to wet areas in the garden or for adorning a large container, with careful watering. Its feathery inflorescences remain very attractive in dried bouquets.

The Genus Astilbe belongs to the Saxifragaceae family, and results from multiple crossbreeding between different species (A. astilboides, A. davidii, A. japonica, A. thunbergii.), producing numerous horticultural hybrids selected for the beauty of their flowers. 'Color Flash' is among the latest cultivars chosen not only for their flowering, but also their original and colourful foliage. It is a rhizomatous and stoloniferous perennial plant, forming upright and bushy, spreading tufts. The plant will reach 60 cm (24in) high when in flower, 40 cm (16in) for the foliage, spreading over 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20in). It is a perennial with good longevity, with deciduous compound foliage composed of toothed leaflets, initially acid green in spring and particularly appealing with their glossy appearance. The leaves gradually colour over the weeks with dark red to purple spots. Towards the end of the season, the foliage has beautiful golden, orange, and rust tones. Flowering occurs from late spring to early summer, in the form of feathery panicles 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10in) long, composed of tiny dark pink to light pink flowers, fading to beige-pink before wilting.

Astilbe 'Color Flash' can easily be grown in containers, flower beds, or borders or as cut flowers for drying. It is ideal near ponds and streams, and also thrives at the edge of woodland, under trees, or at the base of a hedge, in consistently moist soil. Pair them with Hostas, Ferns, Arums, Rodgersia, or Goat's Beard. These plants can be forced in a greenhouse for early flowering.

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