Visions is a dwarf Chinese astilbe with dense, pyramid-shaped plumes of raspberry pink flowers that carry a sweet fragrance. It blooms in midsummer, extending astilbe color into the later season.
Its large, clear green, coarsely textured leaves form a robust clump 14 to 16 inches tall. Use it in containers, at the front of shaded borders or massed as a groundcover. It tolerates a bit more sun and dryness than most astilbes, and deer and rabbits leave it alone.
What it looks like
Dense, pyramid-shaped plumes 5 to 7 inches long of tiny raspberry pink flowers, held upright on sturdy stems just above the leaves. Leaves are large, compound, coarsely textured and clear green. The plant is a robust, compact clump 14 to 16 inches tall and 12 to 15 inches wide. At peak bloom it is topped with rich raspberry pink pyramids.
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
Grow in part shade in rich, moist soil; this Chinese type tolerates more sun and short dry spells than other astilbes, but performs far better with steady moisture. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9. Mulch well, water in dry weather, and cut back old plumes in spring.
At a glance
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Botanical name: Astilbe chinensis
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Flower color: Raspberry pink
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Foliage: Clear green
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Growth habit: Compact, robust clump
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Mature size: 14–16 in tall × 12–15 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-July
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Peak bloom: Mid-July
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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.