Astilbe japonica 'Vesuvius'

Astilbe japonica 'Vesuvius' is a Japanese hybrid with a mid-early flowering. From July, its deep red flowers gathered in short, well-branched and dense panicles will brighten up the surroundings of water features, shade gardens, wet areas of the garden, or a large container kept cool on the terrace. Its feathery panicles remain very attractive in cut flowers or in dried bouquets. The foliage takes on beautiful colours in autumn.

Astilbe japonica 'Vesuvius' is a rhizomatous perennial plant, with low and compact tufted habit, deciduous, compound, dense and glossy foliage, with dentate, dark green leaflets. It will reach 60cm (24in) in height when flowering, spreading over 40 to 50cm (16 to 20in). A long-lived plant, it belongs to the saxifrage family. It is one of the many hybrids whose type species is native to Honshu, the main island of the Japanese archipelago, and the extreme south of Kyushu Island.

Plant Astilbe japonica in moist to wet, rich, neutral to acidic soil. This hybrid does not tolerate water shortage. The plant adapts well to clay soils, if they are healthy and well amended. Note that Astilbes do not tolerate being flooded in winter. Install Astilbe japonica in partial shade or in a non-burning sunny exposure: in nature, these plants grow in humid understory. Daily watering will be necessary in case of hot summers.

Astilbe japonica can easily be grown in containers, as an evaporative plant, in flower beds, as borders, as cut flowers, and dried flowers. In the understorey, to create a screen as a hedge, and of course in flower beds. Associate them with Hostas, Ferns (Athyrium filix-femina), Arums, Cape Lily (Schizostylis coccinea), and Meadowsweet (Filipendula) or other wet soil perennials.