Astilbe Purple Glory

Description

Quick Facts

Botanical Name: Astilbe ‘Purple Glory’
Common Name: Astilbe ‘Purple Glory’
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Mature Height: Tall, strong growing perennial
Mature Spread: Not specified
Flowering Period: Summer
Flower Colour: Dense purple-pink flower plumes
Foliage Colour: Shiny green with reddish hairs
Hardiness: Hardy perennial
Soil Requirements: Fertile, slightly acidic soil
Aspect: Shade or partial shade
Maintenance: Low to moderate

Description

Astilbe ‘Purple Glory’ is a tall, strong herbaceous perennial with shiny green foliage and distinctive reddish hairs, but it’s the generous purple-pink flower plumes that really steal the show. Reaching up to around 35cm long, the blooms bring soft colour and beautiful texture to shady planting schemes.

It grows best in fertile, slightly acidic soil and is particularly well suited to shade or partial shade. A lovely choice for both single and mixed planting, it also makes an excellent cut flower and partners beautifully with many other perennials.

Caragh Garden Notebook

Planting:
Plant in spring or autumn in moist, fertile soil that has been enriched with compost or well-rotted organic matter. It does best where the soil stays reliably moist.

Watering:
Water well after planting and keep the soil consistently moist, especially through dry spells and while the plant is establishing.

Feeding:
A spring mulch of compost or leaf mould will help support healthy growth and strong flowering.

Seasonal Care & Tidy-Up:
Remove faded flower stems after flowering to keep the plant looking neat. Cut back old foliage in late autumn or early spring.

Pests & Problems:
Generally trouble-free when grown in suitable conditions, though it will always appreciate moisture and shelter from drying winds.

Design Notes:
Beautiful in shade and partial shade borders, woodland schemes and mixed perennial planting. It works especially well with hostas, ferns, hellebores, geraniums and other moisture-loving plants, and the flowers are excellent for cutting too.