Bridal Veil is a classic white astilbe with lacy panicles that droop softly at the tips, giving the plant a frothy look in early summer. It lights up shady corners where white flowers really shine.
Its deep green, glossy foliage looks good before and after bloom, and the plant grows about 28 inches tall. It holds an Award of Garden Merit and suits borders, mass plantings, containers and cutting. Deer and rabbits leave it alone.
What it looks like
Fluffy, lacy plumes 8 to 10 inches long of tiny pure white flowers, loosely branched and gently nodding at the tips. Plumes stand on upright stems above the foliage. Leaves are compound, finely divided, toothed and deep glossy green, forming a neat clump. The plant is about 28 inches tall in bloom and 18 to 22 inches wide. At peak bloom it looks like a cloud of white froth over dark green leaves.
Growing it with lavender
Astilbe needs moist, rich soil and shade, the opposite of lavender's dry, sunny bed, so plant it in a shade garden or along a damp woodland edge with hostas and ferns.
Care
Astilbe grows best in part shade in rich, humus-rich soil that never dries out; in the north it takes more sun if kept moist. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9. Mulch to hold moisture, water during dry spells to prevent leaf scorch, and leave the dried plumes for winter interest before cutting back in spring.
At a glance
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Botanical name: Astilbe × arendsii
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Flower color: Pure white
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Foliage: Deep glossy green
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Growth habit: Neat, upright clump
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Mature size: 28 in tall × 18–22 in wide
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USDA hardiness zones: 4–9
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Light: full sun, part sun to part shade, full shade
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Bloom start: Mid-June
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Peak bloom: Late-June
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Bloom pattern: Single Flush
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Deer resistance: Resistant
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Pollinator value: Good
Sizes and shipping
Dormant bare-root plant, sold in boxes of 25 per variety (order in multiples of 25). Bare-root plants ship or are picked up March 1–May 31 only. They are soil-free, so they may ship to every state in that window. Dormant plants often show little or no top growth on arrival; plant or heel them in promptly.