Deutschland is a dependable white Japanese astilbe that blooms early in the season with open, lacy plumes of pure white. It brightens shady spots where white flowers stand out best.
Its bold, glossy, deep green leaves, often tinged with red, look handsome before and after bloom. Growing two to two and a half feet tall, it suits shaded borders, woodland gardens, containers and mass plantings. Deer and rabbits leave it alone.
What it looks like
Dense, pyramid-shaped, lacy plumes 6 to 8 inches long of tiny pure white flowers, held on upright stems above the foliage. Leaves are compound, divided into toothed leaflets, bold, glossy and deep green, sometimes tinged red on the stems. The plant is an upright clump 24 to 30 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide. At peak bloom crisp white plumes stand evenly above the glossy 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 japonica
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Flower color: Pure white
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Foliage: Glossy deep green
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Growth habit: Upright clump
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Mature size: 24–30 in tall × 18–24 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: Early-June
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Peak bloom: Mid-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.
Lavender companion · grow guide
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